Chapter V OFFENCES AND PENALTIES

If any person, whose name is not entered in the register, falsely represents that it is so entered or uses in connection with his name or title any words or letters reasonably calculated to suggest that his name is so entered, he shall, whether any person is actually deceived by such representation or not, be punishable, on conviction by a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Magistrate of the First Class having jurisdiction, with imprisonment which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or both.

1. (1) If any person, whose name has been removed from the register under section 22, fails, without sufficient cause, to forthwith surrender his certificate of registration, he shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees.
2. (2) No cognizance of an offence punishable under this section shall be taken except upon a complaint made by an order of the Council.

1. (1) Except the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, no person, association or institution, called by any name, shall confer grant or issue, or hold himself or itself out as entitled to confer, grant or issue, any degree, or any other document stating or implying that the holder, grantee or recipient thereof is qualified to practice the Acupuncture system of therapy.
2. (2) Except the Council, no person, association or institution, called by any name, shall confer grant or issue, or hold himself or itself out as entitled to confer, grant or issue, any diploma, license, certificate or any other document stating or implying that the holder, grantee or recipient thereof is qualified to practice the Acupuncture system of therapy.
3. (3) Any person contravening the provisions of sub-section (1) or (2) shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment which may be extend to one year or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees or with both; and if an association or institution is guilty of such contravention, every Member thereof, who knowingly or wilfully authorizes or permits the contravention, shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment which may extend to one year or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees or with both.

1. (1) No person shall use any letters or figures after his name indicating or implying that he possesses any degree in Acupuncture system of therapy, unless such degree has been conferred by the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences.
2. (2) No person shall use any letters or figures after his name indicating or implying that he possesses any diploma, license or certificate in Acupuncture system of therapy, unless such diploma, license or certificate has been conferred or recognized by the Council.
3. (3) Whoever contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) or (2) shall, on conviction, be punishable, on first conviction, with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, and, where such contravention continues after the first conviction, with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees for each such contravention.

1. (1) The Registrar shall, from time to time, as the occasion may require, on or before the date to be fixed in this behalf by the Council, cause to be printed and published (provided that at least twelve months shall have elapsed from the date of the last publication) a correct list of the names for the time being entered in the register setting forth therein,-
   • (a) names of all registered Acupuncture practitioners and Acupuncture personnel arranged in alphabetical order according to surname ;
   • (b) the registered address of each such person ; and
   • (c) the registered qualification of each such person and the date on which each qualification was obtained.
2. (2) The Registrar shall, from time to time, as occasion arises, cause to be printed and published a list supplementary thereto, containing additions and alteration in the register since the publication of the list under sub-section (1).
3. (3) Every court shall presume that any person whose name is entered in the latest list printed and published under sub-section (1), read with the latest list supplementary thereto, if any, printed and published under sub-section (2), is duly registered under this Act, and that any person whose name is not so entered is not registered under this Act : Provided that, in the case of any person whose name does not appear in the latest list printed and published under sub-section (1), read with the latest list supplementary thereto, if any, printed and published under sub-section (2), a certified copy of the entry of the name of such person in the register, signed by the Registrar, shall be evidence that such person is registered under this Act.

1. (1) Offences under sections 24, 25, 26 and 27 shall be cognizable and non-bailable.
2. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), no Court shall take cognizance of an offence punishable under this Act except upon a complaint, in writing, made by a person authorized in this behalf by the Council.