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Journalism of Courage
Soon after being taken off the job of ‘‘cleaning the mess’’ in the Medical Council of India (MCI) by the Supreme Court today, Maj. General (Retd.) S.P. Jhingan withdrew from the council’s general body meeting.
While Jhingan said his job of putting the MCI back on tracks wasn’t over, he was happy that the allegations of corruption against him had not been proved. ‘‘I could have done so much for this place. But at least I am able to walk out with my honour intact,’’ Jhingan said after he was told about the SC order.
The apex court today gave the reins of MCI’s management to its executive committee. It also set up a committee of four eminent doctors to monitor the appointment of inspectors and the process of grant of recognition to private medical colleges by the MCI.
On the allegations of corruption against former MCI president Ketan Desai, who was removed from the post by the high court, the SC bench directed the CBI to file either the closure report or the chargesheet before the appropriate court if the probe is over.
Jhingan has written to Health Minister Shatrughan Sinha’s office and to Health Secretary S.K. Naik, informing them that he was demitting office with immediate effect.
Ever since he joined the MCI as its administrator on November 26, 2001, members of the council have not allowed him to function properly. Jhingan had been appointed by the Delhi High Curt when a division bench gave a landmark judgement on a PIL that the MCI was a ‘‘den of corruption’’.
Minutes of the general body meetings of the MCI reveal that Jhingan had been attacked by members to force him to leave. Jhingan did not quit, but with the Health Ministry reportedly opposing his appointment and MCI members not allowing him to function, clearing the mess in the council proved to be difficult.
Jhingan had decided to call it quits a month ago and wrote to Health Minister Sinha. ‘‘But then I thought I should keep the work going till I am told to leave. Now I am quite relieved,’’ he said.
