Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, widely recognized as 'The Liver Doc' on the internet, has been served a summons by the Uttar Pradesh Police Crime Branch in Raebareli. This summons is in response to his critical stance on AYUSH and Homeopathy practices through his social media posts. The summons demanded Philips to appear at the police station within three days.
Philips, self-described as a "highly published and certified hepatologist," has been actively combating misinformation surrounding AYUSH practices. Initially skeptical about the legitimacy of the summons, Philips was taken aback when its authenticity was confirmed. The complaint leading to the summons was lodged in September 2023 by a Homeopathy practitioner named Rajeev Singh. Singh's grievance challenged Philips's vocal opposition to Homeopathy's efficacy in addressing the Covid-19 pandemic.
Philips views the summons as emblematic of the obstacles faced by truth advocates. He criticized the summons as a systemic flaw, wherein unsubstantiated complaints, often driven by political agendas, are entertained without due investigation. Emphasizing his commitment to evidence-based practices, Philips highlighted the responsibility of medical professionals in debunking pseudoscientific claims.
This encounter with legal proceedings isn't unfamiliar to Philips. He recounted a previous incident where the Kerala Police initiated an inquiry into his publications regarding alleged liver injuries resulting from Ayush practices. Philips underscored the ramifications of such harassment, particularly for individuals lacking his resources and support network.
In response to these developments, Philips called for a comprehensive review of the mechanisms governing complaint procedures. He underscored the importance of safeguarding freedom of expression and intellectual discourse, especially within the medical community.
The filing of an FIR against Dr. Abby Philips under Section 66 of the Information Technology Act further complicates the situation. However, the specific charges remain undisclosed pending Philips's response to the allegations.
Rajeev Singh, the complainant, accused Philips of defaming and attacking the AYUSH system of treatment on social media platforms. This complaint, reminiscent of Section 66A of the IT Act, highlights the continued misuse of obsolete legal provisions despite their annulment by the Supreme Court in 2015.
While Philips awaits further developments in the case, he expressed frustration over what he perceives as frivolous complaints being entertained to stifle dissenting voices. He urged for a fair and transparent investigation process to prevent the misuse of legal mechanisms for harassment.
(Input from various media sources)
(Rehash/Krisha Shah/SB)