Bombay HC pulls up MCI over delay in approval of GMC Gondia

The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court is reportedly concerned about MCI taking too much time to grant the approval to GMC Gondia. It has been alleged that the MCI has a casual attitude over an issue with is important for the healthcare of poor people.

Only recently all seemed well for the government medical college in Nagpur. Medical Dialogues team had also reported that after a recent round of inspection done by the MCI in GMC Gondia and Chandrapur, all seems positive for the two medical colleges. They might soon receive a green signal from the council for the academic session of 2016-17. GMC Gondia seemed well-prepared for the surprise visit by the MCI officials.

Earlier an inspection was conducted by MCI in December 2015, and even though the college had not received the MCI review report directly; it was later submitted to the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court after a PIL was filed by a social worker. There were 22 deficiencies pointed out in the report. The college then submitted an undertaking in the court for rectification by March 31 2016.

The court is now upset over the contradictory view of MCI on giving GMC Gondia approval or this academic year. MCI had told that the GMC Gondia case was referred to oversight committee formed by the apex court. This was done in view of overseeing the counseling and admission process under MCI, till the council holds the complete authority to conduct counselling and admissions at the college. It may be noted that the Parliament has to enact a law empowering the apex medical education body to conduct counseling and admissions.

However, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has said that MCI has a contradictory stand on the matter.

Legal facts reported on the case by TOI include

In the morning session, its counsel Saurabh Tapadia made a statement which was later contradicted by another counsel Rahul Bhangde stating that the apex body was positively considering Gondia's case. The court then directed state to depute a responsible officer for assisting 'oversight committee' with entire set of documents and completing other formalities.

The petitioner knocked the judiciary's doors contending that the people from area need to travel long distance to Nagpur for serious ailments in absence of proper medical facilities. The central government had also included Gondia in list of places at which GMC is to be established and was ready to provide funds.

A division bench comprising justice Bhushan Gavai and justice Vinay Deshpande directed the MCI to reply before June 16. The court censuring came while hearing a PIL (No 65/2015) by Praful Agrawal, who sought opening of GMC in Gondia, being a backward district affected by naxalism.