DGHS to Handle Interim Functions; Reconstitution Process Ordered Within Two Months
New Delhi: Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has approved the dissolution of the Delhi Medical Council (DMC), citing serious allegations of irregularities and abuse of statutory powers. The decision, announced on Tuesday, follows a proposal by the Delhi Health Department and comes amid ongoing concerns about the Council’s functioning.
As per the official communication, L-G Saxena has directed the Health Department to begin the reconstitution process for the Council immediately and ensure it is completed within two months. Until then, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) will oversee the Council’s core responsibilities, including doctor registrations and handling cases of professional misconduct.
The DMC, established under the Delhi Medical Council Act, 1997, is the only statutory body in the capital empowered to regulate the practice of modern medicine, enforce ethical standards, and handle complaints of medical negligence.
The Council consists of 25 members, including elected representatives from nearly one lakh registered allopathic doctors, nominees from the Delhi Medical Association, government officials, and medical faculty members.
According to reports by PTI and Indian Express, the action was triggered by findings that the DMC had extended the retirement age of its Registrar from 60 to 65 years without obtaining prior approval from the government. Additionally, it further extended the Registrar’s term by a year starting December 1, 2024.
In response to a showcause notice issued earlier this year, the Council stated that the official had resigned with immediate effect. However, it failed to provide supporting details, which the L-G’s note criticized as non-transparent and beyond its statutory mandate.
Saxena concluded that the Council had “exceeded” and “abused” the powers granted under the DMC Act, concurring with the Health Department’s proposal for its dissolution. He further ordered that two ex-officio members may continue in the interim and that DGHS be assigned the role of Registrar during this period.
