Union Cabinet has given approval to the NIMHANS, Bangalore Bill 2010 by accommodating the suggestion of the Parliamentary committee to keep out the Union minister for health as the President of the institute and elevate it as a body corporate.

The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday, approved the bill to reconstitute it as a body corporate with all properties currently with the Union health ministry being transferred to the institute.

While the Cabinet rejected the Committee's suggestion against incorporation of the institute as a body corporate, it accepted the suggestions on composition of the institute.

“No change in Clause 4 (Incorporation of Institute) of the Bill is proposed in view of the legal advice obtained from the Department of Legal Affairs,” said an official release. The Central Government will nominate the president of the institute from among the members other than the director.

The original Bill had proposed that the Union health minister be the president of the institute, a proposal opposed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee which stressed that a political person should not head the institute.

“The Institute shall consist of the Chief Secretary or his nominee, not below the rank of Secretary, to the Government of Karnataka, ex-officio. The Institute shall consist of seven persons of whom one shall be non-medical scientist representing the Indian Science Congress Association and one each from biological, behavioural and physical sciences of repute from any university to be nominated by the Central Government in such manner as may be prescribed). Four representatives of medical faculty of Indian universities of whom one shall be from NIMHANS to be nominated by the Central Government in such manner as may be prescribed,” the release said.

“In October 2010 the Cabinet approved (i) declaring NIMHANS as an institution of national importance on the lines of AIIMS/ PGIMLR. and (ii) introduction of NIMHANS. Bangalore Bill. 2010 in Parliament with such modifications of drafting nature as may be considered necessary. In pursuance thereof, the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences. Bangalore Bill, 2010 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on 7th December, 2010 for declaring NIMHANS as an institution of national importance. The Chairman, Rajya Sabha referred the aforesaid Bill to the Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare for examination and report within three months. The fifty-third report on NIMHANS, Bangalore Bill. 2010 of the Committee was presented to the Rajya Sabha on 4th March, 2011 and a copy of the report was also laid on the Table of Lok Sabha on 4th March 2011,” it said.