Govt orders special audit of Delhi medical council
Doctor
New Delhi: To investigate the financial irregularities and recoveries allegedly associated with the tenure of the former registrar of the Delhi Medical Council (DMC), the Delhi Government has now ordered a special audit of the Council.
The special audit will be conducted by an audit team comprising Senior Accounts Officer Smt Savita Jain, Sh Vijay Kumar Rajput (Consultant), and Smt Sadhna, Data Entry Operator, mentioned the official communication issued by the Directorate of Audit, Government of NCT of Delhi.
"It is requested to issue necessary instructions to the concerned authority to make available all records, sitting arrangements as well as secretarial assistance to the audit party," the communication addressed to the registrar of DMC mentioned.
The communication by the Audit Department also mentioned in the communication that during the audit, the team will assess the "exact quantum of financial irregularities", and "financial recovery of unlawfully gained monetary benefits by Dr Girish Tyagi," who served as acting registrar and president/vice-president of the DMC.
Further, the order mentioned that the audit will also examine the losses to the government's exchequer due to the alleged illegal extension of the former Registrar's tenure. The Audit Department has granted 30 days of time to the special audit team to complete the exercise and submit its report.
Also Read: Delhi Medical Council dissolved on orders of LG
The Delhi Medical Council is an autonomous statutory body enacted under the Delhi Medical Council Act 1997 to regulate the practice of the modern system of medicine in Delhi. DMC also ensures that private doctors in the city are following ethical practices.
It is the only statutory body in Delhi to handle complaints of medical negligence and professional misconduct in Delhi. The council comprises 25 members, including eight elected by around 100,000 registered allopathic doctors in the city, one by the 20,000-member Delhi Medical Association, 10 by medical college faculties, four government nominees, and two former officials.
Back in February, the Government warned of dissolution if the council failed to resolve its "systemic irregularities".Earlier, the Delhi Health Department had sent a proposal to L-G Saxena seeking control over the body under Section 29 of the DMC Act, 1997. The proposal recommended the dissolution of the council for a specified period.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Delhi Government had sent the proposal amid allegations of mismanagement and irregularities in the functioning of the Council. In its note recommending the dissolution, the department had accused the Council of overstepping its authority and misusing powers granted under the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Health Department tasked the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) to oversee the functions of the Council until a new body is formed. Back in June, acting on the recommendations made by the Delhi Government, the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) dissolved the DMC, citing serious lapses.
Earlier this year, a five-member inquiry panel set up by the Delhi Health Department submitted its report to the Government. The panel was set up by the Health Department following a series of complaints against the Medical Council. One of these charges was extending the retirement age of the DMC registrar from 60 to 65 years without the approval of the Government and granting a further one-year extension of tenure from December 1, 2024.
Also Read: Inquiry report on Delhi Medical Council submitted
