Unfair Means in NEET PG Exam: Delhi Medical Council Suspends Doctor for 3 years

The doctor, a DNB candidate at St Stephens Hospital, New Delhi was caught impersonating for some other candidates in NEET PG and had been debarred by NBE for 7 years 

New Delhi: Responding to a National Board of Examination (NBE) intimation about a medical practitioner Dr. Patel Nevil Vishnubhai who had been found guilty of using unfair means in NBE examination and that he had been debarred for a period of 7 years from all NBE examination, the Delhi Medical Council has now suspended the said doctor for a period of 3 years, debarring him from practice.

The case refers to a medical practitioner who had done his MBBS  Surat Municipal Institute of Medical Education and Research (SMIMER) which he completed in 2010 after successful completion of the internship.  He then applied to the Delhi Medical Council for registration as medical practitioner which was accepted by the DMC and a registration certificate dated 13th July 2012 was issued to him. He thereafter applied in January 2012 with the National Board of Examinations for admission into DNB General Medicine and he was allotted St Stephen's Hospital, Delhi as his institution for the three-year training.

After successfully securing his place in the DNB Course, it was alleged that in the exam held in the session Jan 2013, he was involved in impersonating for some other candidate. A show cause notice was issued on 22^nd November 2013 and the NBE vide letter dated 4^th August, 2014 barred him from the entrance examinations of DNB for 7 years.

It is reported that after this, he completed his three-year training at St. Stephen Hospital; he applied for participating in final examination for DNB December 2014. The admit card was issued and he successfully cleared his examinations and attempt certificate, provisional degree and N.O.C was issued by the National Board of Examination. Thereafter, he applied for NEET SS, another exam conducted by NBE. However, on the day of the examination, he was not allowed to participate in the examinations and show cause notice was issued to him. Another show cause to him was issued by NBE asking him why his degree should not be cancelled, with the matter now pending with NBE

With the NBE sending all the documents to DMC for further action, the council also issued a show-cause notice to the doctor.

" Dr.  Nevil Vishnubhai Patel has accepted his guilt and has not challenged the decision of the National Board of Examinations. " Dr Girish Tyagi, Registrar Delhi Medical council informed Medical Dialogues team

At the same time, the doctor averred that the content of the NBE letter has no nexus with his professional duties as, doctor registered with the Delhi Medical Council and that the allegation which has been placed before the Delhi Medical Council through the letter was no manner related to his work as a professional or during his job as a doctor or medical practitioner.

After going through all the submissions, Disciplinary Committee of the council held that Dr Nevil Vishnubhai Patel has been found to be guilty of grave professional misconduct

It is observed in the letter dated 4^th August, 2014 that DNB Board in their enquiry have established   Nevil Vishnubhai Patel  had appeared  in NEET PG 2013 On 27^th November, 2012 and 29^th November 2012 vide testing ID SR8681334 and SR8730300 at Panacea Testing Center-New Delhi and Asia Pacific Institute of Management-New Delhi centres respectively with different names (KAKADIYA BRIJESHKUMAR RAMESHBHAI AND PATEL NEVILKUMAR VISHNUBHAI), hence, Dr. Nevil Vishnubhai Patel of been found guilty of using unfair means in National Board of Examinations by appearing in different DNB Examinations in different names.In the same letter, it is also recommended by DNB Board to take action under CrPC/appropriate law.

It is further noted that Dr.  Nevil Vishnubhai Patel has accepted his guilt and has not challenged the decision of the National Board of Examinations.

Based on the observations the council recommended that the name of Dr Nevil Vishnubhai Patel be removed from the State Medical Register of the Delhi Medical Council for a period of 3 years.

The council asked NBE to investigate the issue regarding the issuance of admission card for appearing in NEET-SS and also appearing in DNB Exit examination to a candidate who had been debarred for a period of seven years from all NBE examinations as per letter.