Latest news with #GirishTyagi
Hindustan Times
18-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Health minister issues order dissolving Delhi Medical Council
New Delhi Delhi health minister Pankaj Singh on Wednesday issued an order to dissolve the Delhi Medical Council (DMC) and reconstitute a new council within two months, a day after lieutenant governor (LG) VK Saxena approved a government proposal in this regard and called for the dissolution of the statutory body over allegations of irregularities, especially extending retirement age of ex-registrar Dr Girish Tyagi. The minister said that the director-general of health services (DGHS), Dr Rati Makkar, will take charge as the interim registrar of the DMC. However, DMC officials said they did not get any communication in this regard. Health minister Singh told HT, 'The proposal from the LG office was approved last night. Today, we have issued a formal order to DMC. There are alleged reports of irregularities by DMC which now will be probed following which action will be taken against the members of DMC who were involved in the alleged irregularities and abuse of powers.' He said, 'As of now, DGHS director will be the registrar of the council. She will further appoint two other officials who will also look into the duties of DMC.' The issue at hand pertains to the extension of former registrar Dr Girish Tyagi's tenure beyond the age limit of 60, first to 65 and then for an additional year. On May 13, HT reported that amid allegations of mismanagement and irregularities in DMC's functioning, the health department sent a file titled 'Proposal for control of government over Delhi Medical Council under Section 29 of the DMC Act, 1997' to LG VK Saxena, recommending the council's dissolution. In an order issued late Tuesday, the LG said: 'I have perused the proposal regarding dissolution of Delhi Medical Council for a specified period under Section 29 of the Delhi Medical Council Act, 1997. It is observed that the Health Department has rightly pointed out the irregularity wherein the DMC 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 with effect from 1Jan 2024, Additionally, in response to the Show Cause Notice dated 6, Feb, 2025, the DMC merely stated that Dr Tyagi resigned with immediate effect but did not address the unauthorised extension, which resulted in Dr Tyagi serving over five years beyond the normal retirement age.' 'Health Department may be directed to initiate the process for the reconstitution of the Delhi Medical Council in accordance with the provisions of the Act, ensuring that the entire process is completed within two months,' the order said. Dr Tyagi joined DMC as deputy registrar in June 2007 and was elevated as the registrar in July 2008. As he was set to retire at the age of 60 in November 2019, a DMC amendment in February 2019 extended his retirement age to 65. When he turned 65 on November 3, the council on November 11 approved an additional year's extension from December 1, 2024. On Wednesday, Dr Tyagi said that the matter of his one-year extension was currently sub judice and he had taken an extension following due process. 'The council gave a year extension as per Section 36 of the DMC Act and informed the Delhi government. The Delhi government itself has given in the first affidavit justifying the same in the high court of Delhi in writ petition. Meanwhile, the high court is examining this matter WP 61152/24.' A member of the DMC, on condition of anonymity, said, 'The only irregularity that the health department has pointed out is the extension of the registrar's term. It is interesting to note that the extension was done by the previous council (2014–2019) and not the present one. Then, on what basis are these allegations being made against the council and it is being dissolved? Further, the matter of extension of the registrar is also sub judice, so in future, if the court finds that the extension was done as per the law, will the government then reinstate the council?' DMC was established in September 1998 as per the Delhi Medical Council Act, 1997, which was enacted by the government of the NCT of Delhi. DMC is an autonomous statutory body whose primary role is to regulate the practice of doctors in Delhi and ensure ethical practices are followed by private doctors.
The Print
15-06-2025
- Health
- The Print
‘I need a job'—aspiring doctors left in limbo as admin crisis paralyses Delhi Medical Council
'But when I came that day, there was complete chaos,' he told ThePrint, not wishing to be named. 'We were told the staff was on strike due to non-payment of salaries, and there was nothing we could do but leave.' An MBBS graduate from Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College & Hospital in Bihar's Gaya was at the DMC office for the third time Friday. He had applied for registration at the DMC in mid-April and was assigned a document verification date of 2 June. New Delhi: Outside the reception area of the Delhi Medical Council (DMC), medical professionals clutching files of official documents wait anxiously—some visibly frustrated by delays, others confused by the lack of clarity around their registration status. Soon after, the council's website went down, further complicating matters. Now back for verification, he remains uncertain about when he'll receive his registration certificate. 'There's no clarity,' he said. 'Even if the verification happens today, without a registrar or authorised signatory, who will issue the (registration) certificate?' The state medical regulatory body has been in disarray following its dissolution by the Delhi government over the registrar's appointment—a move that has left hundreds of medical professionals, especially fresh graduates, in limbo. According to a show-cause notice issued by the Delhi health department on 6 February, 2025, the council failed to submit a panel of names for appointment of a new registrar and deputy registrar, as required by law. Instead, in violation of government directives, the council unilaterally extended the tenure of former registrar Dr Girish Tyagi in November 2024 who had reached the retirement age. The notice pointed out that no relief had been granted by the Delhi High Court in the case Tyagi had filed for enhancement of retirement age. The notice, accessed by ThePrint, warned that if these irregularities were not rectified, the government may proceed to dissolve the Delhi Medical Council entirely under provisions of the Delhi Medical Council Act, 1997. Delhi health minister Dr Pankaj Kumar Singh confirmed to ThePrint that the current council has been dissolved and that a formal inquiry into its functioning is under way. 'There were many shortcomings and irregularities. We've already initiated an inquiry, and once that is complete, elections will be conducted according to the law,' he said. However, council members told ThePrint that no official notification had been received regarding the dissolution, so it remains unclear when the dissolution actually took place. Also Read: India's top students wanted to be doctors. Not anymore 'I can't wait that long' With the registrar's post lying vacant after Tyagi resigned in February post the show-cause notice, the council's operations have slowed to a crawl, further hampered by a website outage. The registration process that once took 15 to 20 days now stretches into months, jeopardising careers and job opportunities. Sanib Pasha, who completed his MBBS studies this year from Agra's FH Medical College, faced difficulties registering with the DMC during the website outage on 2 June. 'I got a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Uttar Pradesh Medical Council within 5 days. The process was smooth,' he told ThePrint. An NOC is an official document that confirms that the council of the state has no objection to a registered doctor applying for registration or employment in another state or medical council. Pasha has finally managed to book a slot for document verification at the DMC for 26 June. But he fears the process could still take weeks. 'Even after the in-person verification, given the current situation at the DMC, it might take another few weeks to get a registration certificate,' he said. Ankita, who completed post-graduation studies and senior residency in obstetrics and gynaecology from Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi, faced similar issues. She is set to join the MCh programme at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, this session and requires an NOC from the DMC. 'The website outage caused a delay, and now the application status is pending. I don't think that I will be able to join in time,' she said. The DMC website has since become operational. Another MBBS graduate from Bihar, who applied for registration with the DMC around 15 May, told ThePrint she had been forced to visit the council three times already. She was initially given the document verification date of 2 June. 'We were clearly told that the DMC isn't functioning because the website is down,' she said. 'We even requested them to at least complete the verification for students who had already registered—but it was no use.' She returned on 6 June, only to be denied entry into the premises. Now, on her third visit Friday, she said officials asked her to register again, claiming her documents were incomplete. 'I applied on a probationary basis and don't need an NOC from the UP Medical Council, but they're insisting on it. They're just trying to stall the process,' she alleged. She said the next available slot for verification was in August. 'I can't wait that long—I need a job,' she said. Also Read: Admit 100 patients in 15 days, or else…Mathura medical college's order to make PG doctors 'work hard' For want of registrar According to DMC members, the root cause of the administrative standstill is the absence of a registrar—a key statutory post that has remained vacant since February. 'Since there was no registrar, there's no authorised signatory. All financial matters came to a halt,' one member told ThePrint on the condition of anonymity. 'So far, we were managing on goodwill. But after some time, even routine operations like registration had to be stopped.' Another official from the DMC told ThePrint that the executive committee has now appointed Dr Ashwini Goyal as the interim signatory. 'All members have been informed. Salaries of employees have been released. We've also notified the government and sent an official communication,' the official said. However, he clarified that the interim signatory has not been authorised to approve all financial transactions. 'We still have pending payments amounting to at least Rs 7-8 crore,' he said. He acknowledged the challenges, adding that if the DMC website remained non-functional, doctors would face difficulties, and if the staff don't receive salaries, office operations are affected. 'So far, only three payments have been cleared,' he added. The registrar of the DMC, a statutory officer appointed with the approval of the Delhi government, also functions as the secretary and executive officer. The registrar is responsible for recording minutes, managing official correspondence, maintaining the medical register, overseeing finances, and supervising staff. Without this key position filled, these functions have come to a grinding halt. Dr Tyagi said the DMC had recommended the name of Dr Vijay Dhankar as interim registrar on 10 March. 'For one month, the president of the council has the power to nominate someone. So, the executive committee sent a name to the Delhi government for approval,' he told ThePrint. However, the file appears to be in bureaucratic limbo. 'Several letters have been sent to the department of health seeking approval for the proposed registrar, but no response has come so far,' Tyagi said. The financial implications of the leadership vacuum are becoming evident. 'Salaries of employees haven't been paid for the last three months,' Tyagi added. Legal expenses, GST payments, electricity bills—none of it has been cleared. Even website maintenance was being handled by external vendors, who eventually halted services due to non-payment, according to Tyagi. Uncertainty over DMC's future The larger uncertainty about the council's future has added to the confusion. One of the members questioned the lack of an interim arrangement. 'If you are going to dissolve a body, at least set up a new one. Who's going to run things until elections are held?' he asked. According to DMC members, the council has not received any official notification about the dissolution. They said they were simply informed by the Delhi health minister when they went to meet him that the file for dissolution approval had been sent to the Lieutenant Governor and a response is awaited. The DMC was established under the Delhi Medical Council Act, 1997, as a statutory body responsible for regulating the practice of modern medicine in Delhi. Its responsibilities include maintaining a live register of medical practitioners, ensuring ethical conduct, taking disciplinary action in cases of professional misconduct, and protecting the rights of both doctors and patients. The council comprises a blend of elected and nominated representatives: nine members are elected by registered medical practitioners—including one by the Delhi Medical Association—four are nominated by the Delhi government, and one member is elected by the faculty of each medical college in Delhi. Additionally, the Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Delhi University and the Director of Health Services serve as ex-officio members. The president and vice-president are elected from among the members for a five-year term, and the president heads the executive committee, which handles administrative decisions. Dr Dhruv Chauhan, national spokesperson for the Indian Medical Association, strongly criticised the Delhi government's inaction. 'The current government is not interested in resolving the issues the DMC is facing. The council is non-functional, and as a result, many doctors are suffering,' he told ThePrint. (Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui) Also Read: Doctors without safety. Chennai knife attack on oncologist renews call for central law
Hindustan Times
13-05-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Delhi govt seeks to dissolve medical council over alleged irregularities
The Delhi government has moved a proposal to dissolve the Delhi Medical Council (DMC), the statutory body that regulates medical practice in the Capital, amid allegations of mismanagement and irregularities in its functioning, people familiar with the matter said. If approved by the lieutenant governor (LG), this will be the first time that the council has been dissolved since its inception in 1998. HT has learnt that the health department has sent a file titled 'Proposal for control of government over Delhi Medical Council under Section 29 of the DMC Act, 1997' to LG VK Saxena, recommending the council's dissolution. DMC is an autonomous statutory body whose primary role is to regulate the practice of doctors in Delhi and ensure ethical practices are followed by private doctors in the city for patient safety. No response was received from the LG's office despite multiple attempts to reach them for a comment on the matter. A senior health department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: 'The file has recently been sent to the LG for approval to dissolve the council. Letters have been sent to the DMC in the past asking it to address systematic irregularities in its functioning, particularly regarding the undue extension of the former registrar's tenure. The allegations of irregularities in managing the council will be investigated and a decision will be taken accordingly.' No response was forthcoming from Delhi health minister Pankaj Singh despite repeated attempts to reach him. Meanwhile, the development has raised concerns within the DMC, with several members calling the move politically motivated and an attempt to 'control the body'. On March 3, the Delhi government wrote to the council seeking an explanation for alleged malpractices, including the unlawful continuation of Dr Girish Tyagi as registrar, the disbursal of salary post retirement, and recruitment related irregularities. The DMC's acting president, Dr Naresh Chawla, said the council has repeatedly requested the government to appoint a registrar but received no response. 'Now we fear that the government is likely to dissolve the council using its power under Section 29... It will be unfair to dissolve the DMC just a few months ahead of the council elections,' he told HT. The DMC was established in September 1998 under the Delhi Medical Council Act, 1997. Section 29 of the Act empowers the government to dissolve the council if it believes that the council or its office-bearers have failed in their duties or exceeded their powers. If corrective action is not taken within a reasonable time, the government can appoint registered medical practitioners to carry out the council's functions in its place. Dr Chawla said the council had shortlisted Dr Vijay Dhankar for the post of registrar on March 10 and submitted his name to the government. 'No response has been received from the government. At this point, the council is in dire need of filling the post. Due to the vacancy, the council is undergoing many financial and administrative crises,' he said. On May 8, HT reported on how the absence of an authorised signatory—the registrar—had paralysed the council, with ₹2.5 crore in payments stuck, including staff salaries and operational costs. A council member, who asked not to be named, said: 'We have been verbally told by officials in the Delhi health department that very soon the council will be dissolved, as the file has already been sent to the LG for approval.' The DMC, which is the only statutory body to handle complaints of medical negligence and professional misconduct in Delhi, comprises 25 members: eight elected by around 100,000 registered allopathic doctors in the city, one by the 20,000-member Delhi Medical Association, 10 by medical college faculties, four government nominees and two former officials. 'Dissolving the council would only mean that a democratically elected body is being fully replaced by government nominees,' a member said. Another member added, 'This move will also affect the public, as the DMC acts against hospitals in cases of negligence. Government control over such a body will also impact its ability to take fair action against city hospitals, most of which are owned by individuals with strong political ties.' Former council member Dr Arvind Chopra, who served from 2006 to 2016, also expressed concern. 'Since the inception of the DMC, the body has never been dissolved by the government, and the same should not happen now—especially when the DMC elections are scheduled to be held later this year in October–November,' he said.
Hindustan Times
10-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Delhi Medical Council in state of paralysis with ₹2.5 crore payments stuck
The Delhi Medical Council (DMC) is in a state of administrative and financial paralysis, with critical payments worth nearly ₹2.5 crore – for critical functions such as payment of rent, salaries, tax dues, among others – stuck due to the registrar's post lying vacant for over three months. The registrar, who also functions as the authorised signatory for all official transactions, has not been replaced since February 2025, leading to an escalating backlog of unpaid dues, officials said. A council meeting held on Tuesday acknowledged the crisis, noting that the lack of an interim or officiating registrar had frozen essential operations. Draft minutes of the meeting, accessed by HT, describe the situation as a 'critical administrative and financial paralysis.' According to Delhi Medical Council Act, 1997, the registrar who also functions as the authorised signatory for all official transactions and has the power to authorise payment disbursements. DMC is a statutory body responsible for regulating the practice of medicine in Delhi. Its functions include registering medical practitioners, maintaining a register of registered practitioners, and regulating their professional conduct. DMC's office is situated on IT Park Road in Metro Vihar on a property owned by DMRC. The backlog includes ₹30 lakh in unpaid Goods and Services Tax (GST) and ₹17 lakh in rent for April 1 (they have to pay three months' advance rent) owed to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). 'If the dues are not cleared, the council risks being charged 24% annual interest on delayed rent, with DMRC also demanding ₹72 lakh in overdue rent interest from 2019 to 2021,' a DMC member said on condition of anonymity. Employee salaries for March 2025, amounting to ₹15 lakh, are also pending, alongside ₹15 lakh owed for a Life Insurance Corporation policy covering leave encashment and gratuity. The deadline to file a GST appeal involving ₹55 lakh has lapsed, potentially inviting punitive action, the member cited above added. There are growing concerns about digital disruptions as well, DMC members said. Payments for internet lease charges due from April 28 remain pending. Additional dues listed in the meeting minutes include ₹23 lakh owed to a vendor, ₹7 lakh for an annual maintenance contract renewal, and ₹28.8 lakh earmarked for development-related expenses. The crisis began when the tenure of former registrar Dr Girish Tyagi ended in February. A council member told HT that as of now, DMC has recommended Dr Vijay Dhankar for the position and forwarded his name to the Delhi government for approval, but officials say they are still awaiting a response. Repeated attempts to obtain comments from Delhi government officials regarding the delay went unanswered.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
No registrar, Delhi Medical Council work comes to a halt
New Delhi: Delhi Medical Council (DMC) is experiencing severe operational disruptions due to the absence of a registrar, who is the authorised signatory for the council. Since Feb 2025, the vacant position has significantly hampered the council's operations, affecting numerous medical professionals' essential career procedures. The minutes of the council meeting from April 29 revealed that DMC was undergoing "critical administrative and financial paralysis". The lack of an authorised signatory halted vital operations and financial transactions. The organisation's essential functions have ceased, with financial obligations surpassing Rs 2.56 crore. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi The registration backlog affects MBBS graduates who cannot begin their medical practice without proper documentation. Medical practitioners seeking to work in Delhi from other states also can't obtain permanent registration. Additionally, undergraduate students face difficulties securing provisional certificates for internships, which need the registrar's approval. Medical professionals seeking no-objection certificates for work outside Delhi or international studies remain stalled without the council's authorisation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Click Here - This Might Save You From Losing Money Expertinspector Click Here Undo The meeting minutes detailed significant financial obligations, including a Rs 30 lakh GST challan and Rs 17 lakh monthly DMRC rent. A quarterly payment due from April 1 remains unpaid, with DMRC imposing 24% annual interest on late payments. Staff salaries of Rs 15 lakh for March, along with TDS, income-tax and provident fund payments, are pending. Additional liabilities include Rs 23 lakh to a vendor, Rs 7 lakh for AMC renewal, and Rs 28.8 lakh in development expenses. The crisis began after Dr Girish Tyagi 's removal in Feb following appointment-related disputes. Internal conflicts impeded the selection of a replacement. A doctor, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed that despite identifying four potential nominees, the council only put forward Dr Vijay Dhankar's name to Delhi govt, which goes against the requirement of submitting four nominations. However, another doctor pointed out that as per the law, the executive committee, led by the current president, holds the right to suggest a single candidate after careful deliberation.
