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

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.