NMC Disclosure of Assets: PMO Forwards Issue to Health Ministry for Appropriate Action
New Delhi: Taking cognisance of the pending issue of asset disclosure by the National Medical Commission (NMC) officials, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) has directed the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to take "appropriate action" in this regard.
Such a direction has been issued by the PMO in response to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by Kannur-based Health Activist Dr. KV Babu. Apart from directing the Union Health Ministry to take action, the PMO has also forwarded the complaint on non-disclosure of assets by the NMC members.
It is mandatory for the Chairperson and every member of NMC to declare their assets and liabilities at the time of entering the office and at the time of emitting it.
In this regard, Section 6(6) of the NMC Act 2019 States, "The Chairperson and every member of the Commission shall make declaration of his assets and his liabilities at the time of entering upon his office and at the time of demitting his office and also declare his professional and commercial engagement or involvement in such form and manner as may be prescribed, and such declaration shall be published on the website of the Commission."
Also Read: NMC refuses to disclose Details Of Assets and liabilities of its members, RTI unanswered
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that alleging a lack of transparency in the functioning of the Commission, RTI activist Dr. Babu KV had previously filed several applications under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
The first application was filed on April 6 and referring to Section 6(6) of the NMC Act 2019, Dr. Babu sought the details of disclosure by the Chairman and members of NMC along with the details of disclosure by those who demitted NMC. Later, he also filed several other applications. However, he did not receive any response from the Commission.
Thereafter, he wrote a letter to the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on July 12 seeking response. Dr. Babu pointed out that NMC was violating the NMC Act and RTI Act 2005 and therefore, he urged the Union Health Ministry to invoke section 45 of the NMC Act 2019 and direct the Commission to comply with NMC Act 6(6) and disclose the assets and liabilities without any delay.
Amidst such pressure on NMC to declare the assets and liabilities of the Chairperson and its members, the Union Minister of State for Health, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar earlier this year had informed the Rajya Sabha that the Chairperson and members have submitted the prescribed declaration.
Dr. Babu informed that he filed two more RTI applications on July 19 and September 12. On both occasions, he was informed that as per the records available in the MEI section, no such e-mail related to non-disclosure of the assets/liabilities of NMC members had been received.
Also Read: Pressure on NMC, Health Ministry for asset disclosure of NMC members
Thereafter, Dr. Babu wrote to the PMO on October 16, 2023, and filed an RTI application on October 24, 2023. Consequently, he received an RTI Reply on 09.11.2023, which mentioned, "Letter dated 16.10.2023 of the applicant received in PMO on 19.10.2023 has been forwarded online for action as appropriate through Public Grievances Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) to Department of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi vide this Office registration No. PMOPG/D/2023/02291 I 1 dated 23.10.2023. Redressal of grievance is under the purview of appropriate authority dealing with subject specified. Therefore, information sought relates to the authority concerned to which the complaint was forwarded."
"The status of action on the petition can be accessed from web portal www.pgportal.gov.in by using above mentioned retistration Number," it further added.
Commenting on the matter, Dr. Babu told Medical Dialogues, "While the NMC is stone-walling the RTI applications regarding the disclosure of assets by NMC members, the Ministry of Health which has a responsibility to intervene is evasive. In this context, the response from the PMO by registering the complaint & forwarding it to the MoH is a step in the right direction."
"I believe, now the NMC has to disclose the assets of its members & upload the details on the website & comply with section 6(6) of the NMC Act 2019," he further added.
Also Read: Health Minister responds in Parliament on asset disclosure of NMC members
