Disability certificate row: MHA tells NHRC to act on complaints involving top Maharashtra medical education official

Mumbai: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has been asked to take cognisance of the allegations of irregularities in disability certificate involving a senior medical education administrator in Maharashtra.

Writing to the Secretary General of NHRC, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs referred to the complaints received in this regard on the CPGRAM portal and directed, "It is requested that appropriate action may be taken in the matter and a suitable reply be sent to the petitioners urgently under intimation to this Ministry."

The complaint has been filed against the concerned official, who currently occupies two influential positions in the medical education administration in Maharashtra, including the post of Director of DMER and the acting Vice-Chancellor of MUHS.

Recently, the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment also issued directions to the Government of Maharashtra to conduct a detailed investigation into the matter and submit an Action Taken Report.

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities issued the direction after a formal public grievance was registered by Dr. Divyansh Dwivedi, highlighting concerns about the alleged misuse of disability reservation benefits in senior medical appointments within the state.

It was alleged by the complainant that the concerned senior medical education administrator obtained professional appointments by claiming 52 percent disability under the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) quota.

Further, the letter included the findings of a state-appointed medical expert committee, dated 21 October 2021, which reportedly assessed the actual disability of the administrator at approximately 18 percent, which is below the statutory eligibility threshold prescribed under law.

After receiving the complaint, the Union Ministry of Social Justice, in its official communication dated 22 January 2026, highlighted the seriousness of the allegations and the potential implications under the Rights with Disabilities Act, 2016, and requested the Government of Maharashtra to examine and investigate the matter thoroughly in accordance with extant rules and guidelines and furnish an Action Taken Report (ATR) to the complainant, with intimation to the Central Ministry for record.

The directive by the Central Ministry was issued shortly before the concerned official's scheduled retirement on 31 January 2026. However, allegedly, a proposal is in place for a once-year extension for the official in the role of VC of MUHS, which is reportedly under consideration.

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