MP HC issues notice to Centre over de-recognising medical colleges

Jabalpur, Apr 12 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued notices to the Centre and the state government on a petition challenging not de-recognising of medical colleges in Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Gwalior and Rewa despite less number of teachers and medical staff and a dearth of necessary resources.

Hearing a petition filed by Mr Gaurav Dikshit of 'Srijan, Ek Asha', a voluntary organisation, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Anang Kumar Patnaik and Justice Krishna Kumar Lahoti issued notices to Union Medical Education Secretary, the Medical Council of India (MCI) and others and sought reply within four weeks.

Petitioner's counsel Shashank Shekhar told the court that medical education was being affected due to the dearth of basic infrastructure in the five medical colleges. Referring to the norms of the MCI, he said about 50 per cent posts for teachers were lying vacant. A shortfall of 125 nurses and other technical staff also existed.

The petition stated that 40 vacant posts -- including that of Senior Resident -- existed in the Jabalpur Medical College. Besides, it lacked adequate facilities in the micro-biology, bio-chemistry and other departments.

The petitioner said dearth of resources in all departments not only affected medical education but also the quality of doctors being churned out as per set standards.

The petition stated that the MCI had surveyed the five medical colleges in 2006 and found them unsuitable for imparting medical education and had recommended the Centre to de-recognise them.

The MCI had also asked the Centre to direct the colleges to not allow admissions for 2007-08 academic session.

The petition urged the court to direct appointing adequate number of teachers and make available necessary infrastructure besides not allowing admission during the new academic session in the medical colleges.

UNI