MMC governing body scrapped

The Forum for Medical Ethics had then approached the Bombay High Court to intervene in this matter, so that free and fair elections could be held to the council, which is a premier body that governs medical field in the state. The HC had appointed an observer who had monitored the election process and then submitted his report to the government. The observer had said that the registrar had refused to verify the signatures on the ballot papers and had not complied with various other instructions for conducting the polls.

As a result, the HC had restrained the council from declaring the result and from making a gazette notification to this effect. The council had even approached the Supreme Court to appeal for the implementation of the results, but the SC had rejected this appeal.

Taking cognisance of these developments, the government decided to set aside the existing nine-member body and has appointed an administrator till polls are held.

According to Thomas Benjamin, state secretary, medical education and drugs department, the administrator, Dr S M Sapatnekar, who is at present the joint director for medical education and research, will look after the day to day functions of the MMC and at the same time he will also frame a fresh set of election rules. quot;We want to hold elections with a system of secret ballot instead of the earlier system of postal ballot, so that any mischief can be avoided,quot; he explained. Fresh elections to the council will be held by April, he added.

Reacting to this decision, Dr Manohar Kamath, who had filed the petition on behalf of the Forum for Medical Ethics said that the government has taken a very logical step by appointing an administrator. The earlier system of postal ballot had lot of scope for manipulation and therefore it is important to introduce a system of secret ballot for free and fair elections, he explained. He also stressed that the procedure for holding inquiries against members of the council should be changed so that there is no harassment of that person.

Consultant surgeon, Dr Lalit Kapoor said that this is a good thing and shows that the government is responsive. The only thing now is that all the major issues should be addressed so that the lacunae in the procedures can be removed. One major requirement is to make the council an autonomous body. So that it does not have to rely on the government for funds for conducting any activity, he said. For this, the registration fees need to be revised so that the council has enough funds and does not have to ask for a grant from the government, he pointed out.