Dean practising without valid state medical council license? NMC seeks DY Patil Medical College's response

New Delhi: The Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has asked for an explanation from the DY Patil Medical College regarding the allegations that the dean of the institute is practising without a valid State Medical Council license.

Writing to the Registrar of the institute, the PGMEB has asked to submit comments and remarks on the issue. "I am directed to enclose herewith a complaint received in Postgraduate Medical Education Board wherein the complainant has cited violation of stipulated laws/norms including the violation of Maharashtra Medical Council Act, 1956," NMC stated in the letter dated 23.05.2025.

"It is, therefore, requested to submit your comments/remarks on this matter to this Board within 7 days of the issue of this letter," it further mentioned.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the issue was raised to the NMC after a complaint was filed by Dr. Dwivedi, alleging that the Dean did not have a valid registration from the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC), which is a mandatory requirement to practice in Maharashtra.

Dr. Arcot, who previously served as the Dean of Apollo Jubilee Hills in Telangana, is registered with the Tamil Nadu Medical Council (TNMC), but her registration is not recognised for practice in Maharashtra, raising concerns over her eligibility to hold the academic position.

After the complainant, Dr. Dwivedi, highlighted these irregularities, the Under Secretary at the Vice-President Secretariat referred the email representation to the NMC Secretary and requested the Commission to take appropriate/necessary action.

The complainant had alleged that the medical college had been negligent in appointing the doctor as the Dean of DY Patil Medical College, Medical Dialogues had reported earlier.

Referring to Section 26 of the MMC Act 1965, it was pointed out that the Act made it mandatory for all practising doctors in Maharashtra to register with the state medical council. However, the Dean only held a Tamil Nadu Medical Council Registration, which was invalid to practice in Maharashtra, he said.

He further pointed out that NMC also prohibited employment of doctors without state-specific registrations and alleged that it was "fraud by institution" for "misrepresenting an unregistered dean as qualified". Practising without state registration, the complainant claimed, was also medical negligence as per the Supreme Court's observation. He further alleged that even the UGC norms mandated verified credentials for academic leadership.

Filing the complaint, the doctor demanded immediate suspension of the Dean, an FIR against the college management under IPC Sections 417 (Cheating) & 188 (Disobeying Public Order). He also asked to impose a Rs 5 crore penalty on the medical college via consumer court for endangering students/patients, sought criminal prosecution and disaffiliation by UGC/Maharashtra Higher Education Department.