New Delhi: The central government in all likelihood will dissolve the controversy ridden Medical Council of India (MCI). Sources say a seven-member panel will be announced to oversee the functions of the Medical Council of India.
As the medical council is an autonomous body, the Union cabinet is preparing to bring in an ordinance to amend the old law governing the Council. Last week in Rajya Sabha, there was a huge uproar over the controversy. Health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad was asked why was he not taking any action against Ketan Deasi, the sacked tainted chief of the top medical body.
"There is no law by virtue of which we can take any action against the MCI. The council has been created by an act of parliament which had given it absolute powers. There was no provision of suspension, dissolution or even a showcause notice," said Ghulam Nabi Azad, Union Health Minister.
"Our inability really brought out the shortcomings in the act. It very clearly showed that the 1956 Act of Medical Council of India did not empower the government to set right anything wrong that is happening in this autonomous body," said Sujatha Rao, Health Secretary.
Desai's bail plea has been rejected by a court and his judicial custody has been extended till May 28.
He was arrested on corruption charges by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on April 22 for allegedly accepting a bribe to give permission to a Punjab medical college to recruit a fresh batch of students without having requisite infrastructure.
He has already submitted his resignation to Medical Council Vice-President, who has forwarded the resignation letter to the Health Ministry.
Main functions of Medical Council of India:
• To ensure uniform standards in medical education
• To grant recognition to medical degrees awarded in India and abroad
• Medical colleges across the country require MCI's permission to increase student intake, to set up new medical colleges and to add new courses.