Mangaluru: A group of lawyers has urged the Karnataka government to frame a law on the lines of Kerala to regulate Ayurvedic centres, spas, massage parlours and beauty salons, citing frequent police raids and lack of legal clarity.
Former government prosecutor Manoraj Rajeev, along with advocates Shishir Bhandari, Roshani Sorab and Nadini Akhil, addressed the media at Mangaluru Press Club on Thursday. They argued that in the absence of a regulatory framework, police crackdowns on spas under allegations of prostitution are “unethical” and often humiliate genuine service providers.
Manoraj Rajeev said a 2007 law in Kerala licenses Ayurvedic and wellness centres, sets standards, and allows action against those misusing the trade. “Karnataka too needs such a law. Without it, there is no definition of immorality, yet raids continue. This denies many women their right to work,” he said.
He added that mafias indulging in illegal activities were tarnishing the reputation of Ayurveda and the wellness sector, while honest practitioners were being punished. Rajeev also questioned the “gender bias” in policing the sector, pointing out that similar standards are not applied to nurses and obstetricians.
The advocates said the absence of legislation has led to confusion, with some centres being covered under the Karnataka Private Medical Establishments (KPME) Act and others under the Shops and Establishments Act. Officials too were unclear about licensing norms, they claimed.
Calling the sector a traditional industry that supports lakhs of workers, the lawyers warned that lack of regulation could push many into unemployment due to harassment and false accusations. “This is not a local issue; the state government must urgently bring a law,” Manoraj Rajeev said.
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