Ludhiana, December 23
The newly-constituted Punjab Medical Council has got mired into controversy with some nominated members facing various charges against them. So much so, two doctors, who have been nominated to the council, are facing an inquiry by the council itself. Three of the four doctors nominated to the council belong to Jalandhar, while the fourth one belongs to Khanna.
One of the nominated members from Jalandhar, Dr S.P.S. Grover, is facing an inquiry for his alleged involvement in the infamous kidney scandal. The medical fraternity is surprised as how the same government, which had initiated the inquiry, could nominate him to the council as if no other competent doctor was available. He was also facing an inquiry by the council on ethical charges.
Another doctor from Jalandhar, Dr P.S. Bakshi, is facing a case in the PMC ethical committee for inserting advertisements in newspapers. He has appeared in the PMC many times with his colleagues. The case is still pending against him in the council. One of the doctors remarked,"it is like appointing an accused as a judge and that too to the same bench which is hearing his case".
Dr Randhir Hasthir from Jalandhar is closely related to some senior Congress leaders close to the Chief Minister. The PMC was lying defunct for almost three decades. The Indian Medical Association filed a case in the Punjab and Haryana High Court for its revival. The court ordered elections in May 2003. Three members - Dr Gursharan Singh, Dr Niti Rajan, and Dr A.S. Bhatia - were elected while three others were nominated by the then Medical Education Minister, Chaudhary Santokh Singh.
The president, Dr Manmohan Singh, was nominated by the Chief Minister himself. The term of the council completed this year and fresh elections were held on November 30 this year. The three elected members include Dr B.S. Shah, Dr Goswami and Dr Mann.
Instead of three members, the government nominated four this
time. Though there is a provision of four nominations in the Act, the fourth member is to be nominated by the Commissioner of Delhi. In case, it is now to be nominated by Punjab, a necessary amendment is required in the Act.
Dr O.P.S. Kande, a former state president of the Indian Medical Association, has sought information from the government under the Right to
Information Act as what criteria the government had adopted for nominating members to the council.
