Click to play videoNew Delhi: The Medical Council of India has once again come in news for another controversy. Its new secretary has resigned alleging misbehavior by Board Members, but it remains to be seen if that is the real reason. Interestingly the news of her resignation came 24 hours after CNN-IBN contacted her, asking her whether or not her appointment was legal.
The image of MCI President Ketan Desai being handcuffed and taken to court by the CBI has become synonymous with the rot that was detected in the country's top Medical Education regulator. After its dissolution by the Government last year, the MCI is in the midst of yet another controversy.
Its secretary Dr Sangeeta Sharma has resigned alleging harassment by the Chairman of the Board of Governors KK Talwar.
CNN-IBN has documents that prove that the Health Ministry had raised questions about the validity of Sangeeta Sharma's appointment. In a letter to the board of directors, the health ministry asked them questions like - Why has an approval not been taken from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet for the secretary's appointment? Does Sangeeta Sharma have the requisite experience of 16 years including 10 years of teaching at a medical college? Has a Vigilance Clearance/Integrity Certificate been obtained in the alleged cases of corruption against her?
The MCI board claimed that as an autonomous body, it didn't need an ACC approval for the appointment of secretary. In fact the matter was even taken up before the Delhi High Court.
The ministry is now waiting for the new board of governors who took over on May 13 to respond to their queries.
But on the two other sticking issues of whether or not Sangeeta Sharma had 10 years of teaching experience at a Medical College and if a vigilance clearance had been sought by the MCI with regard to the corruption cases against her, the MCI board remained silent.
At a time when the Health Ministry is struggling to clean the mess left behind by Ketan Desai and his cartel, this fresh controversy has cast a shadow of suspicion on the new system that's being put into place. Its now up to the Government to make the system more transparent and check the rot.
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