The President has
given his assent to the Petroleum (Berar Extension) Repeal Bill,
2002, the Homeopathy Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2002 and
the Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2002. With
this, these three Bills, passed during the ongoing Winter Session
of Parliament, have been notified in the Gazette of India as Act
Nos. 50, 51 and 52 respectively of the year 2002.
The Petroleum
(Berar Extension) Repeal Act, 2002, seeks to repeal the Petroleum
(Berar Extension) Act, 1937with the extension of the Petroleum
Act, 1934 made applicable nationwide by an amendment in the Petroleum
Act in 1950. This also follows the recommendations of P.C. Jain
Commission on Review of Administrative Laws having recommended
its repeal as it has been rendered redundant.
The Homeopathy Central
Council (Amendment) Act, 2002, seeks to amend the Homeopathy Central
Council Act, 1973 to make provision for obtaining prior approval
of the Central Government for the establishment of a new homeopathic
college or for increasing the number of seats for introducing
a new or higher course of study. It also provides for provisional
registration for the items enrolled for house job or internship
as a part of the course of study. At present, there are 166 teaching
institutions for homeopathic system of medicine with an annual
admission capacity of about 9930 students. Out of these colleges,
133 are in the private sector. The amendment seeks to make the
Council act judiciously to enforce the standards of education
prescribed under the provisions of the Act.
The Indian Medicine
Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2002, seeks to amend the Indian
Medicine Central Council Act, 1970 in order to empower the Central
Government to regulate opening of new colleges in the Indian Systems
of Medicine like Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani, introduction of new
or higher courses of study and increase in the admission capacity
of the institutes imparting education in Indian Systems of Medicine.
It will also ensure objectivity and uniformity in their functioning
and standards of medicine. Besides, maintenance of a Central Register
of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani practioners and to regulate education
and practice of Indian Systems of Medicine have been standardized.
Presently, there are 196 colleges of Ayurveda, 35 of Unani and
5 of Siddha systems of medicines spread over 20 States of the
country. Annual admission capacity of these colleges for graduate
course of ayurveda is 7730, and for post graduate 752. The standards
of education in these colleges are proposed to be made uniform
to meet the challenges of globalization.
