Qualification for registration

(1) Save as otherwise provided in section 16 and subject to the provisions of sections 23 and 25 on and after the expiry of the 31st day of December, 1981, the name of any person shall not be entered in the register as a registered practitioner, unless he has passed a qualifying examination as specified in the Schedule to this Act. (1A) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1) and save as otherwise provided in section 16 and subject to the provisions of sections 23 and 25, after the expiry of one year from the commencement of the Amendment Act, the name of any person shall not be entered in the register as a Registered Practitioner in Naturopathic System of treatment or Siddha System of Medicine or Yoga System of treatment, unless he has passed a qualifying examination, as specified in the Schedule to this Act. (2) The State Government, after consultation with the Board, may, by notification, amend the Schedule in such manner as it deems fit, and when any examination is added to the Schedule, the State Government may declare that it shall be a qualifying examination only when granted after a specified date. shall be qualified to give evidence at any inquest or in any court of law as an expert under section 45 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, on any matter relating to medicine, surgery or midwifery.