Medical Council of India election challenged, SC issues notice to Centre, Council

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court today agreed to hear a plea seeking CBI inquiry into the alleged manipulation in election of office bearers of Medical Council of India and issued notice to the Centre and the regulating body for medical profession.

A bench headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu sought response from the government and the Council after a PIL, filed by an NGO, alleged that there has been "manipulation and rigging" in the election held in December last year and pleaded the court for an independent probe.

The petition filed by People for Better Treatment through its President, Kunal Saha, also pleaded that direction be passed for immediate halt of functioning of the present MCI president/ vice-president and other office bearers to ensure transparent and honest functioning of MCI for regulation of medical education.

The petitioner submitted that office bearers in the present MCI were elected unopposed as a result of a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by ex-MCI president, Ketan Desai, and his associates.