Medical monitors get SC warning
The
Supreme Court has warned medical education regulators with contempt proceedings
as well as a CBI inquiry for repeatedly defying directions from the apex court,
high courts and the central government.
A
two-judge bench was peeved that the Medical Council of India, Dental Council of
India and the Veterinary Council of India had repeatedly ignored court and
government directives to carry out inspections of colleges affiliated to them.
A
government renews (or grants) the recognition of a medical, dental or
veterinary college only on a recommendation from the regulator. Many of the
colleges have moved court saying they are in danger of losing their recognition
because the regulator isn't conducting an inspection, thus delaying the
recommendation process.
"After
hearing many similar matters involving the issue of grant of renewal or
permission where Medical Council of India, Dental Council of India and
Veterinary Council of India are one of the parties, we have taken judicial
notice of the fact that the aforesaid council/authorities are not complying
with the orders of this court as also the high courts," the bench of
Justices M.Y. Eqbal and C. Nagappan said.
The
bench cited how, in court, the councils' lawyers promise an inspection by the
next hearing but later turn up with an excuse why this wasn't done.
"This
court has not only been misled but also some incorrect statements have come
from the Bar. We, therefore, warn the parties to be very, very careful and vigilant
while making statements or submissions before this court in future," the
bench said.
"Otherwise,
this court shall be constrained not only to initiate contempt proceedings but
also direct a special CBI inquiry as to why things are being done in such a
way."
The
court cited how the Dental Council of India had repeatedly ignored orders from
the apex court, Madras High Court and the Tamil Nadu government to give its
recommendation on the renewal of the recognition of the Best Dental Science
College Ultra.
