K'taka HC admits petition on HIV/AIDS cure

Bangalore, July 24 (UNI) The Karnataka High Court today admitted a writ petition (PIL) seeking a direction to the state government and drug control authorities to take suitable action and prevent a group of four people from advertising treatment and cure for the dreaded HIV/AIDS.

In its petition, a city-based NGO, 'The Karnataka Network for People living with HIV/AIDS,' said the Group, comprising Balachandra K Pagali Nayak, Ramananda Rao, J D V Rao and A Y Ramesh--had been advertising through pamphlets, brochures, websites and internet that they could cure HIV/AIDS by administering drugs.

The petitioner alleged that the four members were neither qualified doctors nor registered practitioners of medicine and did not possess any license to manufacture drugs. Their activity and claims regarding their success in treating and curing HIV/AIDS patients were misleading innocent people.

Accusing them of violating the provisions of various Acts incluidng the Medical Council Act, MRTP Act and Prohibition of Magic Remedies Act, the NGO said the law enforcing authorities had not taken any action to prevent their unauthorised and unlawful activities.

The petitioner urged the court to direct the authorities to conduct an investigation and institute an inquiry to prohibit such unauthorised activities.

The Bench, comprising Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph and Justice D V Shylendra Kumar, admitted the petition.

UNI XR RG PK RK2228