- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:43028 WP No. 49104 of 2016 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 49104 OF 2016 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: 1. THE TRADITIONAL ACUPUNCTURIST ORGANISATION, BEARING REGD. NO. 380/2014, NO.10/85, SEDAN THOTTAM, G N MILLS POST, COIMBATORE - 641 029. REP. BY ITS STATE PRESIDENT SRI RAMALINGAM. 2. SRI R VIVEK, S/O V RAMALINGAM, AGED ABOUT 21 YEARS, # 152, MP 2, KUBERAGANAPATHI TEMPLE STREET, K.K NAGAR, MATUPALYAM, COIMBATORE DISTRICT, STATE TAMILNADU - PIN 641 029. 3. K ANANDAN, S/O N KANNAN, AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS, R/AT178, 9 C MAIN, 1ST CROSS, VIJAYANAGAR, BANGALORE - 40. 4. K R RAJAN, S/O K M RAGHAVAN, AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, R/AT 460, 1ST A CROSS, 8TH BLOCK, KORAMANGALA, BANGALORE - 95. Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:43028 WP No. 49104 of 2016 5. SURESH M V, S/O M P VIJAYAN, AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS, R/AT ANBU NILAYA, NO 209, 2ND A CROSS, NAGAPPA REDDY LAYOUT, KAGGADASAPURA, BANGALORE - 93. 6. A JAYASHANKAR, S/O C ASHWATHNARAYANA, AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS, NO 1, 1ST CROSS, HOSAHALLI, VIJAYANAGAR, BANGALORE - 560 040. 7. NANDINI N, W/O NAGABHUSAN, AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS, NO 1061, 7TH CROSS, ADARSH LAYOUT, BASAWESHWARA NAGAR, BANGALORE - 79. 8. PADMARAJU H S, S/O SANJEEVAPPA, AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS, 11TH CROSS, GAYATHRI H B C S LAYOUT, BASAVESHWARANAGAR, BANGALORE - 79. 9. K KUMAR, S/O KRISHNAMURTHY, NO 23, G-3, S V NAIDU, KRISHNAREDDY LAYOUT, ELECTRONIC CITY POST, BANGALORE - 79. 10. DR. KAMALAM KRISHNA, S/O SUBBRAYAN, AGED ABOUT 36 YEARS, NO 11, 10TH CROSS, - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:43028 WP No. 49104 of 2016 3RD BLOCK, T R NAGAR, BANGALORE - 028. 11. SHILPA P A, W/O ASHWATHNARAYAN SHETTY, AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS, # 40, 3RD CROSS, NETRAVATHI TENT ROAD, YELLACHENAHALLI, KANAKAPURA ROAD, BANGALORE - 78. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI PRASHANTH P N, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE CHIEF SECRETARY, STATE OF KARNATAKA, VIDHANA SOUDHA, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BANGALORE - 560001. 2. THE SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE, STATE OF KARNATAKA, VIDHANA SOUDHA, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BANGALORE - 560 001. 3. THE SECRETARY, THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFIARS, STATE OF KARNATAKA, VIDHANA SOUDHA, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BANGALORE - 560001. 4. THE SECRETARY, THE MINISTRY OF AYSH, UNION OF INDIA, AYUSH BHAVAN, B BLOCK, GPO COMPLEX, INA NEW DELHI - 110 023. 5. THE SECRETARY, THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE, UNION OF INDIA, # 348, A WING, NIRMAN BHAVAN, NEW DELHI - 110 011. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:43028 WP No. 49104 of 2016 6. THE SECRETARY, THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING, UNION OF INDIA, A WING, SHASTRI BHAVAN, NEW DELHI - 110 001. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI SIDDARTH BABURAO, ADDL. GOVT. ADVOCATE FOR R1 TO R3; SRI KUMAR M.N, CGC FOR R-4 TO R-6) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT OR ORDER OR DIRECTION IN THE NATURE OF WRIT FORBEARING THE R-1 TO 3 FROM INTERFERING WITH THE PRACTICE OF ACUPUNCTURE SYSTEM OF THERAPY BY THE 1ST PETITIONER ASSOCIATION AND ITS MEMBERS ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR FURTHER HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ ORAL ORDER 1. The Petitioners are before this Court seeking for the following reliefs; a. "Issue a writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ or order or direction in the nature of writ forbearing the respondents 1 to 3 from interfering with the practice of Acupuncture System of Therapy by the 1st petitioner Association and its members; b. To direct the Respondent No.4 & 5, the Secretary, Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Health and Family welfare, Union of India to consider formulating necessary legislation/s to grant licenses to the Existing/ New institutions to control, regulate and impart Acupuncture System in India; c. To direct the respondent No.4, the Secretary Ministry of Ayush, union of India for carrying - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:43028 WP No. 49104 of 2016 necessary amendments to register the names of members who are qualified and appropriately trained with a Diploma/Certificate in Acupuncture Science, awarded by any recognized universities and Government institutions to enable them to practice acupuncture- drugless touch therapy independently in order to facilitate the common public to live a healthy life and to create disease fee and drugless society. d. To direct the Respondent No.6, the Ministry of Information and Broadcast, Union of India to telecast or publish articles/documentaries relating to Alternative system of medicine which includes Acupuncture - a drugless touch therapy as one of the alternative system of medicine for a healthy and drugless life. e. To pass such further or other order/s as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances of the case and thus render justice." 2. The respondents on service have filed an affidavit dated 13.10.2025. In para 13 of the said affidavit, it is stated that the Government has decided to take action to bring regulation for ‘acupuncture professionals’ under the ambit of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021. 3. In that view of the matter, learned counsel for the Petitioners submits that the petition could be disposed. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:43028 WP No. 49104 of 2016 4. Placing the submissions made by learned counsel for the respondents and learned counsel for the petitioners, on record, the petition stands disposed. SD/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE KTY List No.: 2 Sl No.: 8