The M.P. Regulation of Couching Act, 1944

1. (1) This Act may be cited as the [Madhya Pradesh]3 Regulation of Couching Act, 1944. [(2) It extends to and shall be inforce in the whole of Madhya Pradesh.]4

2. In this Act, the expression “registered practitioner” shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Central Provinces and Berar Medical Registration Act, 1916 (1 of 1916).

3. Whoever, not being a registered practitioner, or not possessing a professional qualifiction entitling him to be registered under the Central Provinces and Berar Medical Registration Act, 1916 (1 of 1916), couches or attempts to couch or agrees or offers by physical means or interference with the eye to give vision to a person suffering from cataract, with or without that person’s consent, shall on conviction, be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both.

4. Whoever abets the commission of an offence under this Act shall, on conviction, be punishable with the punishment provided for the offence in section 3.

5. Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898) an offence punishable under this Act shall be cognizable and bailable and may be compounded with the permission of the Court.

6. (1) No Magistrate having powers inferior to that of the second class shall try any offence punishable under this Act. (2) A Magistrate may take cognizance of an offence under this Act— (a) on a report of a police officer ; (b) on information of any other person; (c) upon his own knowledge or suspicion that such offence has been committed: Provided that no cognizance shall be taken where the offence alleged was committed more than six month previously.