Act Number: 16

Act Name: The Dentists Act, 1948

Year: 1948

Enactment Date: 1948-03-29

Long Title: An Act to regulate the profession of dentistry.

Ministry: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare

Department: Department of Health and Family Welfare

Section 33: Qualifications for entry on first preparation of register.
    (1) A person shall be entitled on payment of the prescribed fee to have his name entered on the register when it is first prepared, if he resides or carries on the profession of dentistry in the 1[State] and if he--
         (a) holds a recognised dental qualification, or
         (b) does not hold such a qualification but, being a 2 [citizen of India], has been engaged in practice as adentist as his principal means of livelihood for a period of not less than five years prior to 3[the date appointedunder sub-section (2) of section 32]:
     Provided that no person other than a 3 [citizen of India] shall be entitled to registration by virtue of aqualification--
         (a) specified in Part I of the Schedule unless by the law and practice of the State or country to which such person belongs persons of Indian origin holding dental qualifications registrable in that State or country are permitted to enter and practise the profession of dentistry in such State or country, or
         4[(b) recognised, in pursuance of a scheme of reciprocity, under sub-section (5) of section 10:]
     Provided further that a person shall be entitled to registration by virtue of a qualification specified in 5[Part II]of the Schedule only if he is a 3 [citizen of India]:
    6[Provided further that for the purpose of the first preparation of the register of dentists under this Act, a person shall be entitled to have his name entered in the appropriate part of the register without payment of any registration fee.--
         (a) in the State of Saurashtra 7[as it existed before the 1st November, 1956], if he is registered on the register of dental practitioners maintained under Saurashtra Ordinance No. 25 of 1948, as amended by Saurashtra Ordnance No. 40 of 1949; or
         (b) in the State of Travancore-Cochin 7 [as it existed before the 1st November, 1956], if he is registered on the register of dental practitioners maintained under the Travancore Medical Practitioners Act, 1119; 8[or]
    9*                             *                             *                             *                             *                             *
     (2) A person domiciled in a 1 [State] 10*** shall be entitled on payment of the prescribed fee to temporary registration as a dentist for a period of five years, if he has been engaged in practice as a dentist as his principal means of livelihood for a period of not less than two years during the five years prior to 11[the date appointed under sub-section (2) of section 32], and a person so registered shall be entitled to permanent registration if 12 [for a period of five years from the date of his temporary registration he has been engaged in practice as a dentist].
Notes:
1. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for "Provincial".
2. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for "British subject of Indian domicile".
3. Subs. by Act 12 of 1955, s. 9, for "the commencement of this Act".
4. Subs. by Act 42 of 1972, s. 19, for clause (b) (w.e.f. 1-11-1972).
5. Subs. by s. 19, ibid., for Part III (w.e.f. 1-11-1972).
6. Subs. by Act 12 of 1955, s. 9, for the last proviso.
7. Ins. by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 3) Order, 1956.
8. Ins. by Act 42 of 1972, s. 19 (w.e.f. 1-11-1972).
9. Clause (c) omitted by the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020, vide notification No. S.O. 1123(E) dated (18-3-2020) and vide Union Territory of Ladakh Reorganisation (Adaptation of Central Laws) Order, 2020, Notification No. S.O. 3774(E), dated (23-10-2020).
10. The words "or India" omitted, ibid.
11. Subs. by Act 12 of 1955, s. 9, for "the date of the commencement of this Act".
12. Subs. by s. 9, ibid., for certain words.
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