Maharashtra Medical Council Elections set for April 3
Delhi Medical Council
Mumbai: The much-anticipated Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) elections are scheduled for Thursday, April 3. A total of approximately 1.30 lakh registered doctors across the state will cast their votes to elect nine members who will serve on the council and oversee the regulation of the medical profession for the next five years.
The elections will be conducted via a secret ballot at designated polling centres in each district, under the supervision of the district collector. In Nagpur, voting will be held at Hostel No. 3, situated near the dean's office at Government Medical College (GMC). The city will feature 16 polling booths, catering to the district's 7,670 registered medical professionals, including 3,941 male and 3,729 female doctors. Polling stations will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., allowing ample time for medical practitioners to participate in the election process.
The Maharashtra Medical Council serves as a quasi-governmental and quasi-judicial body responsible for regulating medical practitioners across the state. With over two lakh registered doctors under its purview, the Maharashtra Medical Council plays a pivotal role in maintaining ethical medical standards, granting licences, investigating complaints, and ensuring scientific advancements in medical practice, reports the Times of India. The elected members will be responsible for making crucial decisions that impact both healthcare professionals and patients throughout Maharashtra.
Currently, the MMC is functioning under an administrator, as the term of the previously elected general body concluded during the COVID-19 pandemic, delaying the elections. Before the pandemic, the council was led by a body primarily composed of Indian Medical Association (IMA) members. The IMA has once again introduced a panel of nine candidates for this election, while the Parivartan panel is also competing. Additionally, several independent candidates and other groups have entered the contest, making this a highly competitive election, reports the Daily.
With 38 polling centres set up across Maharashtra, the elections will play a crucial role in determining the future course of medical regulations in the state. The nine elected members will serve a five-year term, taking charge of vital responsibilities that will shape the medical profession in Maharashtra. The collector's office said, "Only registered medical practitioners with names on the electoral roll are eligible to vote. Voters must carry one valid photo ID for verification."
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that a medical practitioner from New Panvel has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court challenging the state medical education department, the MMC, and returning officer Shilpa Parab on various grounds, including the preparation of the electoral list and the returning officer's eligibility.
Meanwhile Bombay High Court refused to interfere with the upcoming MMC election scheduled for April 3. The court was hearing a petition filed by Dr. Sudhir Naik and seven other doctors, who challenged the election over concerns of low voter turnout. The petition highlighted that the polling is scheduled for a weekday and has limited centres. The court directed the MMC to increase the number of booths in future elections to ensure better voter participation.
