The Jammu and Kashmir Venereal Diseases Act, 1943

Short title, extent and commencement.--(i) This Act may be called the Jammu and Kashmir Venereal Diseases Act, Svt. 2000.

1. (ii) It extends to the District of Udhampur and the Tehsils of Basohli and Reasi of Kathua and Reasi Districts respectively. The Government may, by notification in the Government Gazette, extend it to the whole or any specified part of the State. [(iii) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may by notification in the Government Gazette, appoint in this behalf.]

Definitions.--Unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,--

1. (i) "venereal disease" includes syphilis, gonorrhoea, chandroid, granuloma venereum;
2. (ii) "Government dispensary" includes a Government hospital or a centre opened by the Government for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment of persons suffering from venereal diseases;
3. (iii) "medical officer" means the medical officer-in-charge of a Government dispensary [and includes an officer-in-charge of the Anti-venereal Unit];
4. (iv) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act.

Duty of person suffering from a venereal disease to have his name, etc. registered.--Every person knowing that he is suffering from a venereal disease shall have his name and other prescribed particulars registered in the manner indicated in section 4 of this Act.

Maintenance of register.--Every Medical Officer shall maintain a register in the prescribed form and shall enter or cause to be entered therein the names and other prescribed particulars of persons suffering from a venereal disease and ordinarily residing within his jurisdiction.

Duty of Medical Practitioner.--Every medical practitioner including a Hakim or a Vaid, who, in the course, of his professional duty or otherwise, comes to know that any person is suffering from a venereal disease, shall forthwith report the name and such other particulars of such person as are within his knowledge to the medical officer within whose jurisdiction such person ordinarily resides.

Duty of person suffering from a venereal disease to offer for examination and undergo treatment.--Every person suffering from a venereal disease shall offer himself for examination for the purposes of diagnosis and treatment of such disease [before a medical officer or any qualified Hakim], Vaid or other medical practitioner and shall undergo such treatment as [such medical officer, Hakim,]

Facilities for diagnosis and treatment of venereal diseases Facilities for diagnosis and treatment of venereal diseases.--The Government shall provide free of charge facilities necessary for examination, diagnosis and treatment of venereal diseases in [Government dispensaries].

Scientific report.--Any medical officer or qualified private or subsidized medical practitioner shall be entitled to obtain free of cost a scientific report from any Government clinic or laboratory on any material which such medical practitioner may submit from a patient suspected to be suffering from a venereal disease.

Secrecy of information.--All informations obtained regarding diagnosis and treatment of any person suffering from a venereal disease shall be regarded as strictly confidential.

Penalty.--(1) Whoever contravenes any of the provisions of section 3, 5, 6 and 9 of this Act shall be punishable with fine which may extend to twenty-five rupees.

1. (2) Whoever, having been convicted under sub-section (1), is again convicted under that sub-section shall be punishable with a fine which may extend to one hundred rupees.

Power to make rules.--(1) The Government may [make rules] for carrying out the provisions of this Act.

1. (2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power such rules may--
   • (a) prescribe the form of the register to be maintained under section 4 ;
   • (b) specify the particulars to be given by a person registering his name under section 3 ; [and] [(c)] provide for the examination, diagnosis and treatment of females suffering from a venereal disease.

Prosecution for offences under sections 3 and 6 of this Act.--No court shall take cognizance of an offence under sections 3 and 6 of this Act, except on the complaint of a medical officer.