Worms in MCI, alleges Agra doc
VIJAY UPADHYAY
Agra. An Agra doctor listed in the Limca book of records for holding a master's degree in surgery and a doctorate in law, is once again in focus, but this time for an altogether different reason.
Alleging corruption in the Medical Council of India, Dr Devendra Gupta has used his legal expertise to pull up this supreme medical body in the Delhi High Court, seeking reconstitution of the MCI and removal of its secretary, Lt Col (Retd) Dr ARN Seetalwad on charges of fraud.
Talking to The Pioneer on Wednesday, Dr Gupta said he has been monitoring the MCI for some time now and come to the conclusion that this prestigious medical institution was being treated by its impeached president Dr Ketan Desai and his former associate and present secretary Dr Seetalwad as their personal domain.
He said the duo were involved in several cases of fraud and embezzlement related to inspection and subsequent registrations of new medical colleges in the country. Dr Gupta moved the Delhi High Court through a PIL on August 22, seeking Dr Seetalwad's removal from the post of secretary.
Refusing to divulge the details of the case since it is subjudice, Dr Gupta said he had ample evidence to prove Dr Seetalwad's association with former MCI president Ketan Desai who had been impeached from the post after the CBI filed a case against him for illegally constituting the MCI and abusing his office for monetary gains.
Dr Gupta charged that Dr Seetalwad was leaking confidential inspection reports of newly established private medical colleges to Dr Desai, who, in turn, was bargaining with these colleges to buy them an approval from the MCI.
The MCI employees union has also filed a complaint with the Union Health Minister and the CBI in this regard. He also charged Dr Seetalwad of illegally tampering inspection reports of medical colleges for monetary gains.
He said that in the court hearing on September 6, the Union Government, which is also a party in the case, acknowledged that it had asked the CBI to investigate the collusion between Dr Seetalwad and Dr Desai. The next hearing is scheduled for Thursday in the Delhi High Court.
Dr Gupta is of the opinion that the MCI has too large a responsibility to remain an autonomous body and feels the control of this body should be handed over to the Government to make the MCI effective and accountable.
The final outcome of the case will depend upon the direction the Union Ministry takes on this issue. If the Central Government takes a positive stand on acquiring control of the MCI, the days of the medical body's autonomy may finally be over.
Alleging corruption in the Medical Council of India, Dr Devendra Gupta has used his legal expertise to pull up this supreme medical body in the Delhi High Court, seeking reconstitution of the MCI and removal of its secretary, Lt Col (Retd) Dr ARN Seetalwad on charges of fraud.
Talking to The Pioneer on Wednesday, Dr Gupta said he has been monitoring the MCI for some time now and come to the conclusion that this prestigious medical institution was being treated by its impeached president Dr Ketan Desai and his former associate and present secretary Dr Seetalwad as their personal domain.
He said the duo were involved in several cases of fraud and embezzlement related to inspection and subsequent registrations of new medical colleges in the country. Dr Gupta moved the Delhi High Court through a PIL on August 22, seeking Dr Seetalwad's removal from the post of secretary.
Refusing to divulge the details of the case since it is subjudice, Dr Gupta said he had ample evidence to prove Dr Seetalwad's association with former MCI president Ketan Desai who had been impeached from the post after the CBI filed a case against him for illegally constituting the MCI and abusing his office for monetary gains.
Dr Gupta charged that Dr Seetalwad was leaking confidential inspection reports of newly established private medical colleges to Dr Desai, who, in turn, was bargaining with these colleges to buy them an approval from the MCI.
The MCI employees union has also filed a complaint with the Union Health Minister and the CBI in this regard. He also charged Dr Seetalwad of illegally tampering inspection reports of medical colleges for monetary gains.
He said that in the court hearing on September 6, the Union Government, which is also a party in the case, acknowledged that it had asked the CBI to investigate the collusion between Dr Seetalwad and Dr Desai. The next hearing is scheduled for Thursday in the Delhi High Court.
Dr Gupta is of the opinion that the MCI has too large a responsibility to remain an autonomous body and feels the control of this body should be handed over to the Government to make the MCI effective and accountable.
The final outcome of the case will depend upon the direction the Union Ministry takes on this issue. If the Central Government takes a positive stand on acquiring control of the MCI, the days of the medical body's autonomy may finally be over.
(UNITED NEWS NETWORK)
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