The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has sought the intervention of Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to address the delay in conducting of elections for the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) as its current 5-year term has ended on May 21, 2016. Following which the PMO has sent a letter to the chief secretary, Maharashtra government to resolve the issue at the earliest.

PMO has asked the Maharashtra government to expedite notification of elections of MMC on which a writ petition has also been filed by the IMA and MMC in the Bombay High Court (HC).

According to an IMA official, the state government has also been directed by the Bombay HC to file replies on the matter by July 29 to address administrative issues at the earliest.

With delay in notification of elections, administration of the council is currently being run on an ad hoc basis by an ayurvedic doctor which is not in accordance with the MMC Act. Compounding the problem further, the registrar also holds an additional charge of Maharashtra Council of Indian Medicine (MCIM) in contravention to the provisions of the MMC Act.

IMA and MMC had petitioned a month ago to the HC about putting in place a full time administrator/ registrar and also notification of MMC elections by the state government in the same petition.

MMC had also been writing to the state government to notify elections urgently in accordance with the MMC Act to run its administration in an effective manner but have not received any reply.

As per the MMC Act, council members getting elected through a democratic process will pave the way for appointment of a full time registrar with prior consultation and approval of the state government.

According to a senior official, appointment of the registrar in question was done by the government unilaterally despite the fact that he holds additional charge of registrar at MCIM apart from being an associate professor at an Ayuverda college.

According to official sources, the current appointment of an ayurvedic doctor by the state government flouts two MMC laws which stipulates that a registrar can be appointed only by elected MMC members in consultation with the government, and the second, the registrar cannot hold any additional charge.

The MMC is the state branch of the Medical Council of India (MCI) that regulates ethical practices of allopathic doctors. Any doctor who wishes to start practice has to first register with the MMC for a licence. The MMC can cancel or suspend the licence if the doctor is found indulging in any unethical practice. By taking care of medical cases, it also ensures less burden on courts.