Delhi Govt Vs Doctors: LG orders to dissolve Delhi Medical Council

As Lt Governor V K Saxena ordered to dissolve the Delhi Medical Council over alleged irregularities, following which Delhi health minister Dr Pankaj Singh issued an order to dissolve the DMC and reconstitute a new council within two months, the apparent rift between Delhi Government and doctors’ body has become more evident.

After the dissolution of the Delhi Medical Council, the Delhi government has assigned the responsibility of doctors’ registration in the national capital to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Singh said, “In light of the Lieutenant Governor’s decision to dissolve the DMC, we have transferred its powers to the DGHS, which will now act as the registrar for doctors in Delhi.” “Any irregularities or corruption within the DMC — whether procedural or financial — will also be thoroughly investigated,” he said.

On the contrary, opposing the decision of the government, Dr Ashwini Dalmia, DMC Executive member, said: “Health Department dissolved the present council on the pretext of extension of Registrar which was done by previous council (2014- 2019). The council gave him one-year extension as per section 36 of DMC Act and informed the Delhi Government which itself has given affidavit justifying the same in the Delhi high court”. Terming the step as “unfortunate” Dr Dalmia said, “There is nothing to substantiate the alleged financial irregularities in DMC.”

Mr Saxena approved the proposal for the dissolution of the DMC after allegations of irregularities. He has also directed the health department to reconstitute the DMC within two months. The proposal recommended the dissolution of the council for a specified period. Earlier, the health department had sent a proposal to Mr Saxena seeking control of the body under Section 29 of the DMC Act, 1997.  The DMC is a statutory body responsible for regulating the practice of medicine in the national capital and ensuring that private doctors follow ethics.

In the note to the department, the LG noted that the DMC had unilaterally extended the retirement age of the Registrar from 60 years to 65 years without government approval and further extended his term by one year from December 1, 2024.  Mr Saxena noted that the DMC “exceeded” and “abused” the powers granted to it by the Act. He concurred with the proposal of the Health Department for the dissolution of the Delhi Medical Council.