Around 20 universities across the country seem to be apathetic towards the periodic requests of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of sending their representatives to the Medical Council of India (MCI). One of them is Indore, where an unseemly row has broken out, requiring the state governor to intervene in the matter.

This stand, despite a Delhi High Court ruling for filling up the vacancies of the MCI, has put the Ministry in precarious position before the Supreme Court. The Apex Court had directed the Union of India take appropriate steps to fill the existing number of vacancies, in Civil Appeal No 599-600/2002 (dated November 20, 2002). The Ministry was instructed to present the status quo regarding each vacancy, this month.

The Ministry had identified 20 universities where vacancies date back to even 1978 (The Kanpur University). In a letter to the vice-chancellors of these universities recently, the Ministry has issues strict instructions to take `immediate necessary action' for electing the representatives.

S K Rao, Director Medical Education, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has pointed out in the letter that the Ministry has been periodically making this request. The urgency in the matter was also emphasized in view of the High Court orders - as the filling up of vacancies in MCI will allow it to hold elections for the post of President and Vice-President thereafter.

Some of the universities have informed the Ministry of the action being taken by them in this regard, whereas there has been no response from others, he pointed out adding, some names proposed by the universities could not be accepted by the Ministry as they were not validly elected as per the provisions of Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, and Rules framed there under.

Such universities have been informed of the requirement of electing their representatives as per the laid down procedure.

Meanwhile, the Devi Ahilya Vishwa Vidyalaya (DAVV), Indore - one of the four universities identified in Madhya Pradesh - has sought permission from Governor Dr Bhai Mahaveer to convene an Extraordinary Meeting of the Senate to finalise the nomination of members to the Medical Council of India and Dental Council of India.

The earlier meeting, on January 8, 2003, was cancelled by the Governor after allegations of favouritism and manipulations were leveled by some members of the university's medical faculty. The DAVV Vice-Chancellor, Dr Bharat Chhaparwal, was accused of favouring one Dr Vinod Bhandari - projecting him as the MCI representative. Also Dr Bhandari's inclusion into the DAVV's medical faculty as a reader in physiotherapy institute was disputed.

CONSTITUENCY-WISE VACANCIES IN MEDICAL COUNCIL OF INDIA

S.No Name of the University Date of Vacancy
1. Agra University 09.09.1996
2. Mumbai University 18.07.1999
3. Utkal University 03.04.2001
4. Gujarat University 09.09.1996
5. Rani Durgavati Vishvavidyalaya 17.07.1999
6. Allahabad University 02.12.1997
7. Rajasthan University 09.12.2001
8. Banaras Hindu University 01.02.1993
9. Ranchi university 06.11.1982
10. Jiwaji University 10.06.1992
11. Shivaji University 01.11.2001
12. Devi Ahilya Vishvavidyalaya 16.10.1996
13. Sambalpur University 14.09.1985
14. A.P. Singh University 22.02.1994
15. Aligarh University 16.10.2002
16. Kanpur University 09.11.1978
17. Gorakhpur University 11.07.1980
18. Kashmir University 24.06.1992
19. Magadh University 11.03.1988
20. Mahatma Gandhi University 10.11.1998

Source: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare records