MCI Reaches SC to oppose order constituting Lodha Panel

New Delhi: Dissatisfied with the recent order of Supreme Court of constituting a three member panel headed by Chief Justice of India, the Medical Council of India has now approached the Supreme Court asking for a modification to the order. While the order was based on the court perception of rampant corruption at MCI, the regulator has challenged it on the grounds by implying that this is a well designed propaganda put forward by certain private medical colleges, to render the MCI weak and toothless.

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Earlier, The Supreme Court has constituted a three member oversight committee with Justice RM Lodha (Former Chief Justice of India), Shri Vinod Rai ( Former CAG of India ) as well as  Prof Dr S.K Sareen ( Director, ILBS) to oversee all the activities of MCI for the next year. This came in the light of the court finding gross inefficiencies as well as corruption in the workings of the MCI, a fact which was also blatantly highlighted by the 92^nd report of the Parliamentary Committee on health.

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In its application, MCI highlighted that the SC order was based on the perception that MCI is corrupt, adding that vested interests have orchestrated a well-designed propaganda against the council to render it weak and toothless.

As per MCI,  the vested interests are none other than private colleges who fail to secure recognition in view of gross deficiencies in faculty, clinical material and other physical facilities. It contested the court’s opinion that the apex regulator in healthcare being corrupt and as a result appointing a 3 member panel to oversee its actions.

"Lobbies with ulterior motives and interest have done everything possible in their attempts to malign the name of the MCI and are further attempting to ensure that instead of getting appreciated for humongous tasks being performed by the MCI year after year – with complete sincerity, transparency and objectivity, the MCI has been finding itself at the receiving end on account of malicious propaganda against it,” the application stated.

With inputs from HT