Delhi Medical Council dissolved on orders of LG
Delhi Medical Council Dissolved
New Delhi: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has given his approval for the proposal to dissolve the Delhi Medical Council.
L-G Saxena on Tuesday ordered the dissolution of the Council over alleged irregularities, PTI has reported. He has also directed the Health Department to initiate the process for the reconstitution of the medical council and to ensure that the entire process is completed within two months.
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.
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. 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.
PTI has reported that the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi has now approved the proposal. In the note to the Health Department, Saxena noted that the Delhi Medical Council had unilaterally extended the retirement age of the Registrar from 60 years to 65 years without government approval and further extended his term by one year from December 1, 2024.
The Delhi Medical Council, while responding to a showcause notice issued in February this year, said the concerned official had resigned with immediate effect but did not share further details, the LG note said.
Saxena noted that the council "exceeded" and "abused" the powers granted to it by the Delhi Medical Council Act, 1997. He concurred with the proposal of the Health Department for the dissolution of the Delhi Medical Council.
Indian Express has reported the L-G mentioned in the order, "Accordingly, I concur with the proposal of the Health Department for dissolution of Delhi Medical Council as approved by the Hon’ble Chief Minister."
He also directed that two ex-officio members of the Delhi Medical Council may continue in the Council, and DGHS may be assigned the responsibilities of Registrar for the intervening period.
