MCI takes tough stand against GMC for not suspending Ketan Desai’s registration, moves higher judicial forum.
In a recent development, the US-based group working against medical corruption in India — People for Better Treatment (PBT)– has filed a case against Gujarat Medical Council for not suspending tainted doctor Ketan Desai’s medical registration. The suspension was ordered by the Medical Council of India (MCI) in October last year.
The group’s appeal challenging the election of Desai to the GU senate was rejected by the Gujarat high court in December 2010. The appeal was admitted to the Supreme Court in March this year. Responding to the appeal, SC had issued a notice against Desai and Gujarat University (GU).
MCI has moved the matter to the higher judicial forum for appropriate action against the Gujarat Medical Council (GMC). Dr Kunal Saha, president, PBT, said, “PBT had recently filed a new case against the GMC, which will be moved to Gujarat HC when the court will open next month.” He added that MCI, during its Ethics Committee meeting held on May 10, had asked the board of governors to take the matter to the higher judicial forum against GMC for their non-compliance with the MCI’s order of October 9, 2010.
Although MCI summarily suspended Desai’s license on October 9, 2010, the GMC, where Dr Desai is originally registered, has refused to cancel his registration yet allowing Desai (who is presently free on bail) to get elected “unopposed” to the Gujarat University Senate last December.The GMC has claimed that MCI has no right to direct a state medical council to take action against a physician and that their action against Dr Desai was illegal. PBT has now filed a case against GMC for not suspending Desai’s registration as ordered by MCI,” said TV George, advocate for PBT in New Delhi. Saha said with the admission of appeal against Desai in SC, MCI’s decision to take GMC to the higher judicial forum for disregarding MCI’s authority as the highest medical regulatory body may have noteworthy implications on the regulation of practice of medicine in India.
