Section 27. Bar to practice.

(1) No person, other than a person who is enrolled in the National Register or State Register, shall-- (a) be allowed to practice nursing or midwifery as a qualified nursing or midwifery professional or nursing or midwifery associate; (b) be entitled to give evidence at any inquest or in any court of law as an expert under section 42 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 (1 of 1872) on any matter relating to nursing and midwifery: Provided that a foreign citizen who is enrolled in his country as a nursing and midwifery professional in accordance with the law regulating the registration of nursing and midwifery professional in that country may be permitted temporary registration in India for such period and in such manner as may be specified by regulations. (2) Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this section shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to five lakh rupees, or with both.