The Madras High Court has refused to quash a show-cause notice dated June 7 and a consequential notice dated July 29 this year of the Ethics Committee of the Medical Council of India (MCI) to Sri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute in Kancheepuram, a deemed-to-be university, run by Sri Balaji Education and Charitable Public Trust, of which petitioner M K Rajagopalan was the chairman.
The MCI received a report from the CBI alleging manipulation of records by the college and in turn directed Rajagopalan to appear before the Ethics Committee on June 29, this year. A similar notice was issued to 26 faculty members. Despite his appearance before the Ethics Committee and submission of explanation, the committee proceeded further and summoned Dr Ajeet M Gopchade to produce his certificates and appear before it on August 23, 2013. Hence, the present writ petition challenging the notices.
Since the Supreme Court had made it clear that the report submitted by the CBI, the premier investigating agency in the country, would be sufficient to take action by the MCI, there is no merit in the contention of the petitioner that the Ethics Committee was not justified in proceeding with the enquiry, Justice K K Sasidharan said on Monday.
The judge also observed that the universities established by the Central or State governments had no control over many of the medical colleges on account of conferment of deemed-to-be university status. It was said that even for awarding more marks or to make a failed candidate pass in MBBS, some of the deemed-to-be universities were charging hefty sum. “If this trend continues, a time will come when patients will verify the degree certificates of the medical professionals before taking treatment. It is for the government, both the Central and State and the MCI to streamline the system,” the judge added.