Can BDS, MDS dentists pursue Mch Cranio Maxillofacial Surgery?- High Court refuses to decide, directs doctors to AIIMS Rishikesh

Uttarakhand: Holding that the court does not enter into the domain reserved for subject experts, the Uttarakhand High court has directed the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India to approach the Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Rishikesh in context of submission seeking a number of reliefs for Plastic Surgeons with MBBS Degree and Masters Degree. The HC noted that which qualification would be suitable for admission, in a particular medical course, can only be decided by the subject experts.

The order came in the backdrop of a writ petition filed by the Association of Plastic Surgeons of India. The association was aggrieved by the admission notice dated 09.06.2019 published by Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh.

As per the notice, Dental Surgeons with BDS Degree or MDS Degree have also been declared as eligible for admission to M.Ch. in CranioMaxillofacial Surgery.  The counsel for the petitioner submitted that only Plastic Surgeons with MBBS Degree and Masters Degree alone are suitable for admission to the said course and Dental Surgeons are not well equipped for Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, which requires a high degree of skill. 

However, the Plastic Surgeons of India association filed a case opposing the notice as they found it to be in violation of the Dentist Act 1948 in the Indian Medical Council act 1956, thereby seeking directions to;

1. Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus declaring the inclusion of Dental Graduate (BDS) and Dental Postgraduates (MDS) candidates for admission in the M.Ch. The course as per the admission notice announced by the AIIMS Rishikesh on 09-06-2019 (contained as Annexure no. 1 to this writ petition) for M.Ch. Entrance Examination (July Batch, 2019) being conducted by respondent no. 2 as the said Course is violative of Dentist Act, 1948 and Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 respectively, further holding that the candidates possessing the Dental Graduate (BDS) and Dental Postgraduates (MDS) Degrees as ineligible for the M.Ch. Course.

2. Issue a writ in the nature of certiorari quashing the setting aside the proposed Regulations and the entire proposal for the New Course of M.D.Ch. in Maxillofacial Surgery proposed by the Dental Council of India as mentioned in their letter No. DE-190-2014/4445 dated 24-7-2014 (Annexure no. 13) by DCI to the Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare regarding Draft Regulations for a new Specialty course in Maxillofacial Surgery called M.D.Ch. to the extent of inclusion of Graduates in Dentistry and those candidates possessing Diploma in Maxillo Facial Surgery

3. Issue a writ, order or direction in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents to remove all other topics that are beyond the scope of Oral Surgery as Defined under the Dentist Act Section 2(d) from the M.D.S. Course Regulations & Syllabus that existed even before 2007.

4. Issue a writ, in the nature of mandamus directing the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare i.e. respondent no. 4 (by virtue of the powers vested in them through Entry 66 of 7th schedule (Article 266) of the Constitution of India i.e. "Coordination and determination of standards in institutes for higher education or research and scientific and technical institutions") in restricting the admission in M.Ch. the course only for MBBS and MS candidates.

5. Issue a writ, in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents to provide for punishment/penalty to any Dentist who performs procedures outside the Oral cavity, (as defined by Section 2(d) Dentist Act), and to provide the same as an offense at par with Criminal Negligence, as same may result into harm of health of the public at large.

6. Issue a writ in the nature of certiorari quashing the setting aside the Revised MDS Course Regulations, 2007 (published by the Dental Council of India (DCI) and notified in the Gazette on 21-11-2007, Annexure no. 3) [as the same are unscientific and against the existing statutes in law and M.Ch. is the highest super specialty degree in surgery recognized by the MCI as per the IMC Act, 1956 and the Dental Council of India in recognizing the self-same degree has illegally encroached over the domain of the Medical Council of India] and as such are ultra vires the Constitution of India as well as the Central Act i.e. Indian Medical Council.

Hearing the case, Hon'ble Manoj K. Tiwari, J. observed;

"It is settled position in law that while exercising power of judicial review, this Court does not enter into the domain reserved for subject experts. Which qualification would be suitable for admission, in a particular medical course, can only be decided by the subject experts?"

The court held;

"In such view of the matter, this Court is not inclined to entertain this writ petition. Having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, writ petition is disposed of with liberty to the petitioner to make representation to the Director, All India Institute of Medical Science, Rishikesh within two weeks from today. If such representation is made within the stipulated time, the Director, AIIMS, Rishikesh shall look into the matter and pass a speaking order, in accordance with law, within four weeks from the date of production of such representation along with a certified copy of this order."

Attached is the order below

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/pdf_upload-133196.pdf