Relaxation given to PMEs from securing trade licence, producing OC defeats object of law: HC

The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday observed that prima facie the exemption granted from securing trade licence and producing occupancy certificates (OC) for buildings at the time of registration o

The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday observed that prima facie the exemption granted from securing trade licence and producing occupancy certificates (OC) for buildings at the time of registration of private medical establishments (PMEs) defeats the very purpose and object of the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments Act, 2007. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice John Michael Cunha made this observation while ordering notice to the State government on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition in which legality of the circular, issued by the Commissioner for Health on August 17, 2020, has been questioned. The Commissioner, citing suggestions by associations of private medical establishments to simplify and streamline the process of registration and renewal of the PMEs, had stated in the circular that “the mandatory trade licence clause for registration and renewal of private medical establishments is hereby relaxed”.