Madras HC directs police to inspect 4 TV channels

The Madras High Court has ordered the Director-General of Police to appoint a police officer to verify the license of doctors appearing on four television channels, Vijay Television, Raj Digital Plus, Raj Television, and Jaya TV. The court has also directed that the police officer should not be below the rank of a Deputy Commissioner (DC).

These doctors appeared on the channels and claimed that they can cure dreaded diseases like AIDS, kidney disorders etc. The Indian Medical Association, Tamil Nadu, expressed its doubt about the authenticity of these doctors. They wanted a mandamus forbearing frauds from airing programmes on television channels and to stop the magazines and channels to conduct such programmes.

The appointed police officer will verify the license of these doctors to check whether they are fraud. Justice S. Nagamuthu said that the allegations against these quacks appearing on television channels have no proof yet but the court cannot allow frauds to practice medicine.

The four alleged channels have, however, said that the doctors were qualified and they allowed the doctors to conduct programmes only after verifying the certificates.

According to the counsel, the channels aired these programmes for the welfare of the public and they can provide relevant records to prove the genuineness of these doctors.

Recording this statement, the judge said that the channels would be furnishing the records as assured.