Double PG medical seats, appoint teachers: PIL

Mumbai, Feb 25 (PTI) The Bombay High Court has asked theMedical Council of India (MCI) to file a reply to a petitionfiled by Peoples Health Organisation (PHO) seeking a directionto double the number of seats for post graduate medicalcourses, improve infrastructure in hospitals and fill upvacancies of teachers.

MCI had yesterday sought time to file a reply followingwhich a bench headed by Chief Justice Mohit Shah allowed therespondent to file an affidavit by March 24.

The Court also asked the state government to inform onMarch 24 its action plan to improve the infrastructure inhospitals and fill up vacancies of teachers.

Arguing in person, Dr I S Gilada, Secretary of PHO, urgedthat the admission process for post graduate medical coursesfor this year had already commenced and hence the PIL shouldbe heard expeditiously and the matter be kept high on board onthe next date of hearing.

Besides MCI, the other respondents are MaharashtraGovernment and the Centre.

Highlighting the shortage of medical post graduate seatsdue to alleged gross negligence of the union and stategovernments, the PIL alleged that failure to improve hospitalinfrastructure and fill up vacancies of teachers had fuelledthe crisis further.

There have been cases of suicides committed by young andfrustrated doctors who failed to secure admission in postgraduate courses, the PIL said. (More) PTI SVS DK RDM