Punjab: Why Punjab Medical Council Chief's removal seems fishy

As per a Punjab government notification issued on December 22, 2011, Grewal was appointed as PMC president for a period of three years or till new PMC body is constituted. Later, the term was extended from three to five years on September 11, 2014. Grewal’s close aide told HT that the term of a PMC member and president are two different issues. Grewal’s term is ending in December 2016 and not December 2015 as perceived by the minister.

The current move is rumoured to have been a result of a tiff between the PMC chief and the Minister which  has been implied to be long going. As reported by HT, in the past, Grewal had been alleging the minister was supporting unscrupulous doctors, while Joshi has initiated an inquiry against Grewal for indulging in unethical practices while managing the affairs of PMC. Dr Grewal is also brother of the adviser to the CM, Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal.

Meanwhile, Dr Grewal pointed out to the media, that the CM's move has been driven by personnel vendetta. “He wanted to protect the doctors who were involved in corruption, but I refused to accept his orders. It is a vendetta, earlier the minister ordered an inquiry against him, but couldn’t find anything. Now, he is resorting to these tactics,” he told Chandigarh Tribune.

While on the other hand, Joshi told

HT that he was acting on merit and won’t go beyond the law as he has nothing personal against Dr Grewal. Quoting the Punjab Medical Council Act- 1916, Joshi adds that term of Dr Grewal as member of PMC has already expired. A PMC president is elected from amongst the council members, claims the minister.

The minister has ordered his department to set up a fresh panel to nominate new PMC president.