Practising without valid State Medical Council License? DY Patil Medical College Pune Dean's Role Under Question, NMC to Investigate

Pune: Can doctors with medical council registration from one state practice in another? - This matter is now under probe as the National Medical Commission (NMC) will investigate the appointment of the Dean of DY Patil Medical College, Pune, after a complaint was raised alleging that she does 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 recognized for practice in Maharashtra, raising concerns over her eligibility to hold the academic position.

After the complainant, Dr. Divyansh Dwivedi, raised a complaint in this regard in the Vice-President Secretariat, NMC was directed to take proper action in this regard.

Now, recently writing to the Secretary of NMC, the Under Secretary at the Vice-President Secretariat referred to the email representation received from Dr Dwivedi and mentioned that the "applicant had submitted his representation multiple times to this Secretariat and other concerned authorities. However, the matter remains unsolved with no action till date."

Also Read: 'Assessors Did not Identify Any Deficiencies!'- DY Patil Medical College Pune says after NMC Letter

"You are requested to kindly take appropriate/necessary action and communicated to representationist directly under intimation to this Secretariat," the communication dated 16 May, 2025 further mentioned.

It was alleged that the medical college had been negligent in appointing the doctor as the Dean of DY Patil Medical College. 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.

He urged to give a 7-day deadline to the Maharashtra Medical Council to confirm/deny the registration status of the Dean and requested to seal the Dean's office till compliance. Further, he asked for compensation for the students and requested to declare all orders passed by the Dean as null and void.

This is not the first time that DY Patil Medical College has come under the NMC radar. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that taking cognisance of several allegations concerning medical students, their training and the functioning of the institute, NMC had directed the Pune-based institute to look into the matter and furnish an action taken report within a week. NMC wrote to the medical college in this regard after receiving a complaint alleging several deficiencies in the medical college including infrastructure and space constraints, irregularities and financial concerns, stipend deductions, issues with the district residency programme, deficiencies in medical training and patient care, and concerns regarding surgical training.

Recently, after receiving numerous complaints/grievances from students alleging that D Y Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre was collecting MBBS fees for 5 years instead of 4.5 years, the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of NMC asked the Directorate of Medical Education (DME), Maharashtra to investigate the matter and take proper action, if required. DME Maharashtra had been directed to clarify if any medical college in Maharashtra is charging full fees for the 5th year instead of charging only for 4.5 years, the duration of the MBBS course.

Also Read: MBBS fees for 5 years instead of 4.5: DY Patil Medical College Pune under NMC scanner