Nagpur News : In the PIL filed by Dr Kapileshwar Sharma and 7 other post-graduate students of the Indira Gandhi Medical College Hospital here, complaining to the High Court about Medical Council of India (MCI)’s notification of September 17, 2010, prescribing minimum standard requirements of staff for the Forensic Medicine department for the medical colleges with intake of 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 MBBS admissions and thus, instructing about reduction in the no. of staff, Justice Bhushan Gavai and Justice Atul Chandurkar have directed addition of the two deans of the GMC and IGGMC in the city, to the PIL as respondents and seeking from them affidavits in two weeks, regarding administrative and teaching staff in medico-legal section of their respective colleges.
Further, the Court has expressed desire to peruse the minutes of the MCI meeting,wherein decision was taken for reduction in number of staff for Forensic Medicine departments of the medical colleges.
The petition has been filed with prayer for quashing the impugned notification for direction to the respondents including State Govt. to increase the staff for the Forensic Medicine Department looking to its requirement, keeping in mind the workload in medico-legal studies, in the interest of justice.
In the affidavit submitted on behalf of the State Govt. in reply to the PIL , it has been pointed out to the Court that there is shortage of medico-legal experts in India.At present, MBBS doctors are discharging this work, though they do not have required expertise in the subject.
On June 18, 2013, the HC had passed order seeking details from the respondents on affidavit in 6 weeks regarding their requirement of such staff and its availability.Report of Dr Dixit in this regard was received on March 4, 2013 and was forwarded to the State director of Medical Education and since then, there is no development/progress in the matter, it seems. Advocate Anil Kilor appeared for the petitioners. AGP Anil Sonak (State), adv Rahul Bhangde (MCI) and Asst SGI S K Mishra (Union Govt) represented the respondent.
