http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/323/7326/1385

BMJ 2001;323:1385 ( 15 December )

News

Head of the Medical Council of India removed for corruption

Rohit Sharma, Mumbai

The High Court in Delhi has ordered that Dr Ketan Desai, the president of the Medical Council of India, be removed from his post after it found him guilty of corrupt practices and abuse of power.

Besides heading the council, which regulates the medical profession in India, Dr Desai also heads the Indian Medical Association, which represents India's doctors.

Because the council also regulates medical education, including the establishment of new medical colleges and the number of students that colleges can admit, it has enormous power.

A large number of medical colleges in India have allegedly become corruptaccused of illegally charging money running into millions of rupees over and above the normal medical school fees to give admission. This practice of charging "capitation fees" was admitted and banned by the Supreme Court a few years ago but is thought to still thrive illegally.

Running medical collegesmany of which are known to be controlled by politicians of different partieshas become big business in India since billions can be made illegally by asking for money from students seeking admission and their parents.

Having invested a great deal of money in getting admitted to medical school, some doctors want to recover their investment by charging substantial amounts to patients or ordering unnecessary diagnostic tests.

A writ petition was filed last year by Harish Bhalla, a private practitioner challenging the appointment of Dr Desai, providing evidence of his corrupt practices, his subversion of the council by usurping all key decision making roles and appointment powers, and seeking his removal.

The petition accused Dr Desai of large scale bungling in medical admissions. Evidence was also presented on manipulation of inspection records of two medical colleges in Pune and Ghaziabad for granting them recognition.

Minutes of the council meetings showed that all critical decisions were concentrated in Dr Desai's hands. Dr Bhalla presented details from an income tax raid at Dr Desai's house last year, which showed unexplained receipt of 6.5 million rupees (£95000; $136000) via bank drafts in the names of his wife, daughters, and himself from several people in Delhi.

The judges ruled that Dr Desai had misused his position as president of the Medical Council of India. "We cannot allow an unscrupulous and corrupt person to function as the president of the MCI [Medical Council of India]," observed Justices Chopra and Kumar. "Therefore we direct that Dr Ketan Desai shall cease to hold office of president of the MCI with immediate effect," they added.

The judges also castigated the central government, whose officials had been accused of connivance in the affairs of the council, for not discharging its duties properly. Major General (Retired) S P Jhingon has now been appointed by the court to head the council as an interim administrator until the council is reconstituted.

© BMJ 2001

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BMJ 2001 323: 0. [Full text]  

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