The Andhra Pradesh Prevention of Couching Act, 1964.
**THE ANDHRA PRADESH PREVENTION OF COUCHING ACT, 1964**

**ACT No.04 OF 1964**

**ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS**

**SECTIONS**

1. Short title and commencement
2. Definitions
3. Penalty for unlawful couching
4. Offence to be cognizable and bailable
5. Congnizance of offences
6. Repeal


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**THE ANDHRA PRADESH PREVENTION OF COUCHING ACT, 1964**

**ACT No.04 OF 1964**

[29[th] January, 1964]

**AN ACT TO CONSOLIDATE AND AMEND THE LAW RELATING TO THE**
**PREVENTION OF COUCHING BY UNQUALIFIED PERSONS IN THE**
**STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH.**

BE it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Andhra Pradesh in the
Fourteenth Year of the Republic of India as follows:
**1. Short title and commencement- (1) This Act may be called the Andhra**
Pradesh Prevention of Couching Act, 1964.

(2) It extends to the whole of the State of Andhra Pradesh.

**2. Definitions – In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-**
(i) ‘couching ’ means the operative displacement by the use of a needle or
other instrument, of the opaque crystalline lens of the eye until the
lens no longer intercepts the line of vision;
(ii) ‘registered practitioner’ means a person registered under [1][the Andhra
Pradesh (Andhra Area) Medical Registration Act, 1914 (Act IV of 1914)]
or any other law similar thereto for the time being in force in the State
of Andhra Pradesh.

**3. Penalty for unlawful couching – Whoever, not being a registered**
practitioner or not possessing a qualification entitling him to be registered
under the relevant law relating to the registration of medical practitioners
referred to in clause (ii) of section 2, performs or attempts to perform
couching on a person with or without his consent, shall be punishable
with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with
fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both.

**4. Offence to be cognizable and bailable – Notwithstanding anything in**
the [2][Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898,] an offence under this Act shall
be cognizable and bailable.

**5. Cognizance of offences – (1) No magistrate inferior to a magistrate of the**
second class shall try offence under this Act.
(2) No magistrate shall take cognizance of any offence under this
Act except,(i) upon a complaint in writing made by the person on whom
couching was performed or an attempt to perform couching was made; or
(ii) upon a report of a police officer not below the rank of a SubInspector; or
(iii) Upon a report of any person or class of persons authorised
by the State Government in this behalf.
(3) No magistrate shall take cognizance of any offence under this
Act, unless the prosecution is instituted within six months from the date
on which the offence is alleged to have been committed.

1. Please see now the Andhra Pradesh Medical Practitioners Registration Act, 1968 (Act No.23 of
1968), in which the 1914 Act was repealed.
2 . Please see now the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act No. 2 of 1974).


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**6. Repeal - The Andhra Pradesh (Andhra Area) Prevention of Couching Act,**
1945 is hereby repealed.


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