1. SHORT TITLE, EXTENT & COMMENCEMENT
- This Act may be called the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956.
- It extends to the whole of India.
- It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
DEFINITIONS
2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:-
- "approved institution" means a hospital, health centre or other such
institution recognised
- by a university as an institution in which a person may undergo the
training, if any, required by his course of study before the award of any
medical qualification to him.
- "council" means the Medical Council of India constituted under this Act.
- ["deleted" by Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Act, 1964.]
- "Indian Medical Register" means the medical register maintained by the
Council.
- "Medical Institution" means any institution, within or without India, which
grants degrees, diplomas or licences in medicine.
- "medicine" means modern scientific medicine in all its branches and includes
surgery and obstetrics, but does not include veterinary medicine and surgery;
- "Prescribed" means prescribed by regulations.
- "recognised medical qualification" means any of the medical qualifications
included in the Schedules.
- "regulation" means a regulation made under section 33;
- "State Medical Council" means a medical council constituted under any law
for the time being in force in any State regulating the registration of
practitioners of medicine.
- "State Medical Register" means a register maintained under any law for the
time being in force in any State regulating the registration of practitioners of
medicine.
- "University" means any University in India established by law and having a
medical faculty.
3. CONSTITUTION & COMPOSITION OF THE COUNCIL
- The Central Government shall cause to be constituted a council consisting of
the following members, namely:-
- One member from each State other than a Union Territory to be nominated by
the Central Government in consultation with the State Government concerned.
- One member from each University to be elected from amongst the members of
the medical faculty of the University by members of the Senate of the University
or in case the University has no Senate, by members of the Court.
- One member from each State in which a State Medical Register is maintained,
to be elected from amongst themselves by persons enrolled on such register who
possess the medical qualifications included in the First or the Second Schedule
or in Part II of the Third Schedule.
- Seven members to be elected from amongst themselves by persons enrolled on
any of the State Medical Registers who possess the medical qualifications
included in Part I of the Third Schedule.
- Eight members to be nominated by the Central Govt.
- The President and Vice-President of the Council shall be elected by the
members of the Council from amongst themselves.
- No act done by the Council shall be questioned on the ground merely of the
existence of any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of the Council.
4. MODE OF ELECTION
- (a) An election under clause (b), clause (c) or clause (d) of sub-section
(1) of section 3 shall be conducted by the Central Government in accordance with
such rules as may be made by it in this behalf, and any rules so made may
provide that pending the preparation of the Indian Medical Register in
accordance with provisions of this Act, the members referred to in clause (d) of
sub-section (1) of section 3 may be nominated by the Central Government instead
of being elected as provided therein.
- Where any dispute arises regarding any election to the Council, it shall be
referred to the Central Government whose decision shall be final.
5. RESTRICTIONS ON NOMINATION AND MEMBERSHIP
- No person shall be eligible for nomination under clause (a) of sub-section
(1) of section 3 unless he possesses any of the medical
qualifications included in the First and Second Schedules, resides in the State
concerned, and where a State Medical Register is maintained in that State, is
enrolled on that Register.
- No person may at the same time serve as a member in more than one capacity.
INCORPORATION OF THE COUNCIL
6.
The Council so constituted shall be a body corporate by the name of
the Medical Council of India,
having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power to acquire
and hold property, both movable and immovable, and to contract and shall by the
said name sue and be sued.
7. TERM OF OFFICE OF PRESIDENT, VICE-PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS
- The President or Vice-President of the Council shall hold office for a term
not exceeding five years and not extending beyond the expiry of his term as
member of the Council.
- Subject to the provisions of this section, a member shall hold office for a
term of five years from the date of his nomination or election or until his
successor shall have been duly nominated or elected, whichever is longer.
- An elected or nominated member shall be deemed to have vacated his seat if
he is absent without excuse, sufficient in the opinion of the Council from three
consecutive ordinary meetings of the Council, or in the case of a member elected
under clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 3, if he ceases to be a member of
the medical faculty of the university concerned, or in the case of a member
elected under clause (c) or clause (d) of that sub-section, if he ceases to be a
person enrolled on the State Medical Register concerned.
- A casual vacancy in the Council shall be filled by nomination or election,
as the case may be, and the person nominated or elected to fill the vacancy
shall hold office only for the remainder of the term for which the member whose
place he takes was nominated or elected.
- Members of the Council shall be eligible for re-nomination or re-election.
- Where the said term of five years is about to expire in respect of any
member, a successor may be nominated or elected at any time within three months
before the said term expires but he shall not assume office until the said term
has expired.
8. MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL
- The Council shall meet at least once in each year at such time and place as
may be appointed by the Council.
- Unless otherwise provided by regulations fifteen members of the Council
shall form a quorum, and all the acts of the Council shall be decided by a
majority of the members present and voting.
OFFICERS, COMMITTEES
AND SERVANTS OF THE COUNCIL
9. The Council Shall:
- constitute from amongst its members an Executive Committee and such other
committees for general or special purposes as the Council deems necessary to
carry out the purposes of this Act.
- appoint a Registrar who shall act as Secretary and who may also, if deemed
expedient, act as Treasurer.
- employ such other persons, as the Council deems necessary to carry out the
purposes of this Act.
- require and take from the Registrar, or from any other employee, such
security for the due performance of his duties as the Council deems necessary
and
- With the previous sanction of the Central Government fix the remuneration
and allowances to be paid to the President, Vice-President and members of the
Council and determine the conditions of service of the employees of the Council.
10. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- The Executive Committee, hereinafter referred to as the Committee shall
consist of the President and Vice-President, who shall be members ex-officio and
not less than seven and not more than ten other members who shall be elected by
the Council from amongst its members.
- The President and Vice-President shall be the President and Vice-President
respectively of the Committee.
- In addition to the powers and duties conferred and imposed upon it by this
Act, the Committee shall exercise and discharge such powers and duties as the
Council may confer or impose upon it by any regulations which may be made in
this behalf.
10.A. PERMISSION FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW MEDICAL COLLEGE,
NEW COURSE OF STUDY ETC.
- Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other law for the time
being in force:-
- no person shall establish a medical college
( or )
- no medical college shall:-
- open a new or higher course of study or training (including a postgraduate
course of study or training) which would enable a student of such course or
training to qualify himself for the award of any recognised medical
qualification; or
- increase its admission capacity in any course of study or training
(including a postgraduate course of study or training), except with the previous
permission of the Central Government obtained in accordance with the provisions
of this section.
Explanation 1 - For the purposes of this section, "person"
includes any University or a trust but does not include the Central Government.
Explanation 2 - For the purposes of this section "admission capacity"
in relation to any course of study or training (including postgraduate course of
study or training) in a medical college, means the maximum number of students
that may be fixed by the Council from time to time for being admitted to such
course or training.
-
- Every person or medical college shall, for the purpose of obtaining
permission under sub-section (1), submit to the Central Government a scheme in
accordance with the provisions of clause (b) and the central Government shall
refer the scheme to the Council for its recommendations.
- The Scheme referred to in clause (a) shall be in such form and contain such
particulars and be preferred in such manner and be accompanied with such fee as
may be prescribed.
- On receipt of a scheme by the Council under sub-section (2) the Council may
obtain such other particulars as may be considered necessary by it from the
person or the medical college concerned, and thereafter, it may -
- if the scheme is defective and does not contain any necessary particulars,
give a reasonable opportunity to the person or college concerned for making a
written representation and it shall be open to such person or medical college to
rectify the defects, if any, specified by the Council.
- consider the scheme, having regard to the factors referred to in sub-section
(7) and submit the scheme together with its recommendations thereon to the
Central Government.
- The Central Govt. may after considering the scheme and the recommendations
of the Council under sub-section (3) and after obtaining, where necessary, such
other particulars as may be considered necessary by it from the person or
college concerned, and having regard to the factors referred to in sub-section
(7), either approve (with such conditions, if any, as it may consider necessary
) or disapprove the scheme, and any such approval shall be a permission under
sub-section (1):
Provided that no scheme shall be disapproved by the Central
Government except after giving the person or college concerned a reasonable
opportunity of being heard; Provided further that nothing in this sub section
shall prevent any person or medical college whose scheme has not been approved
by the Central Government to submit a fresh scheme and the provisions of this
section shall apply to such scheme, as if such scheme has been submitted for the
first time under sub-section (1).
- Where, within a period of one year from the date of submission of the scheme
to the Central Government under sub-section (1), no order passed by the Central
Government has been communicated to the person or college submitting the scheme,
such scheme shall be deemed to have been approved by the Central Government in
the form in which it had been submitted, and accordingly, the permission of the
Central Government required under sub-section (1) shall also be deemed to have
been granted.
- In computing the time-limit specified in sub-section (5), the time taken by
the person or college concerned submitting the scheme, in furnishing any
particulars called for by the Council, or by the Central Government, shall be
excluded.
- The Council, while making its recommendations under clause (b) of
sub-section (3) and the Central Government, while passing an order, either
approving or disapproving the scheme under sub-section (4), shall have due
regard to the following factors, namely:-
- whether the proposed medical college or the existing medical college seeking
to open a new or higher course of study or training, would be in a position to
offer the minimum standards of medical education as prescribed by the Council
under section 19A or, as the case may be under section 20 in the case of
postgraduate medical education.
- whether the person seeking to establish a medical college or the existing
medical college seeking to open a new or higher course of study or training or
to increase it admission capacity has adequate financial resources;
- whether necessary facilities in respect of staff, equipment, accommodation,
training and other facilities to ensure proper functioning of the medical
college or conducting the new course or study or training or accommodating the
increased admission capacity, have been provided or would be provided within the
time-limit specified in the scheme.
- whether adequate hospital facilities, having regard to the number or
students likely to attend such medical college or course of study or training or
as a result of the increased admission capacity, have been provided or would be
provided within the time-limit specified in the scheme;
- whether any arrangement has been made or programme drawn to impart proper
training to students likely to attend such medical college or course of study or
training by persons having the recognised medical qualifications;
- the requirement of manpower in the field of practice of medicine; and any
other factors as may be prescribed.
- Where the Central Government passes an order either approving or
disapproving a scheme under this section, a copy of the order shall be
communicated to the person or college concerned.
10B. NON-RECOGNITION OF MEDICAL QUALIFICATIONS IN CERTAIN
CASES.
- Where any medical college is established except with the previous permission
of the Central Government in accordance with the provisions of section 10A, no
medical qualification granted to any student of such medical college shall a
recognised medical qualification for the purposes of this Act.
- Where any medical college opens a new or higher course of study or training
(including a postgraduate course of study or training) except with the previous
permission of the Central Government in accordance with the provisions of
section 10A, no medical qualification granted to any student of such medical
college on the basis of such study or training shall be a recognised medical
qualification for the purposes of this Act.
- Where any medical college increases its admission capacity in any course of
study or training except with the previous permission of the Central Government
in accordance with the provisions of section 10A, no medical qualification
granted to any student of such medical college on the basis of the increase in
its admission capacity shall be a recognised medical qualification for the
purposes of this Act.
Explanation - For the purposes of this section, the criteria for
identifying a student who has been granted a medical qualification on the basis
of such increase in the admission capacity shall be such as may be prescribed.
10C. TIME FOR SEEKING PERMISSION FOR CERTAIN EXISTING
MEDICAL COLLEGES, ETC.
- If, after, the 1st day of June, 1992 and on and before the commencement of
the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Act, 1993 any person has established a
medical college or any medical college has opened a new or higher course of
study or training or increased the admission capacity, such person or medical
college, as the case may be, shall seek, within a period of one year from the
commencement of the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Act, 1993 the permission
of the Central Government in accordance with the provisions of section 10A.
- If any person or medical college, as the case may be fails to seek the
permission under sub section (1) the provisions of section 10B shall apply, so
far as may be as if, permission of the Central Government under section 10A has
been refused;
11. RECOGNITION OF MEDICAL QUALIFICATION GRANTED BY UNIVERSITIES OR MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS IN INDIA.
- The medical qualifications granted by any university or medical Institution
in India which are included in the first Schedule shall be recognised medical
qualifications for the purposes of this Act.
- Any university or medical Institution in India which grants a medical
qualification not included in the First Schedule may apply to the Central Govt.,
to have such qualification recognised, and the Central Government, after
consulting the Council, may, by notification in the official Gazette, amend the
First Schedule so as to include such qualification therein, and any such
notification may also direct that an entry shall be made in the last column of
the First Schedule against such medical qualification declaring that it shall be
a recognised medical qualification only when granted after a specified
date.
12. RECOGNITION OF MEDICAL QUALIFICATIONS GRANTED BY MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS IN COUNTRIES WITH WHICH THERE IS A SCHEME OF RECIPROCITY
- The medical qualifications granted by medical institutions outside India
which are included in the Second Schedule shall be recognised medical
qualifications for the purposes of this Act.
- The Council may enter into negotiations with the Authority in any country
outside India which by the law of such country is entrusted with the maintenance
of a register of medical practitioners, for the settling of a scheme of
reciprocity for the recognition of medical qualifications and in pursuance of
any such scheme, the Central Government may, by notification in the official
Gazette, amend the Second Schedule so as to include therein the medical
qualification which the Council has decided should be recognised and any such
notification may also direct that an entry shall be made in the last column of
the Second Schedule against such medical qualification declaring that it shall
be a recognised medical qualification only when granted after a specified
date.
- The Central Government, after consultation with the Council, may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, amend the Second Schedule by directing
that an entry be made therein in respect of any medical qualification declaring
that it shall be recognised medical qualification only when granted before a
specified date.
- Where the Council has refused to recommend any medical qualification which
has been proposed for recognition by any Authority referred to in sub-section
(2) and that Authority applies to the Central Government in this behalf, the
Central Government, after considering such application and after obtaining from
the council a report, if any, as to the reasons for any such refusal, may by
notification in the Official Gazette, amend the Second Schedule so as to include
such qualification therein and the provisions of sub-section (2) shall apply to
such notification.
13. RECOGNITION OF MEDICAL QUALIFICATION GRANTED BY CERTAIN MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS WHOSE QUALIFICATIONS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE
FIRST OR SECOND SCHEDULE
- The medical qualifications granted by medical institutions in India which
are not included in the First Schedule and which are included in Part I of the
Third Schedule shall also be recognised medical qualifications for the purposes
of this Act.
- The medical qualifications granted to a citizen of India:-
- before the 15th day of August, 1947, by medical institutions in the
territories now forming part of Pakistan, and,
- before the 1st day of April, 1937, by medical institutions in the
territories now forming part of Burma, which are included in part 1 of the Third
Schedule shall also be recognised medical qualifications for the purposes of
this Act.
- The medical qualifications granted by medical institutions outside India,
before such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official
Gazette, specify which are included in Part IInd of the Third Schedule shall
also be recognised medical qualifications for the purposes of this Act, but no
person possessing any such qualification shall be entitled to enrolment on any
State Medical Register unless he is a citizen of India and has undergone such
practical training after obtaining that qualification as may be required by the
rules or regulations in force in the country granting the qualification, or if
he has not undergone any practical training in that country he has undergone
such practical training as may be prescribed.
- The Central Government, after consulting the Council, may, by notification
in the Official Gazette, amend Part II of the Third Schedule so as to include
therein any qualification granted by a medical institution outside India, which
is not included in the Second Schedule.
Provided that after the commencement
of the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Act, 2001, no such amendment shall be
made in Part II of the Third Schedule to include any primary medical
qualification granted by any medical institution outside India:
Provided further that nothing contained in the first proviso shall apply to
inclusion in Part II of the Third Schedule any primary medical qualification
granted by any medical institution outside India to any person whose name is
entered in the Indian Medical Register.
Explanation- For the
purposes of this sub-section, "primary medical qualification" means any minimum
qualification sufficient for enrolment on any State Medical Register or for
entering the name in the Indian Medical Register.
(4A) A person who is a
citizen of India and obtains medical qualification granted by any medical
institution in any country outside India recognised for enrolment as medical
practitioner in that country after such date as may be specified by the Central
Government under sub-section (3), shall not be entitled to be enrolled on any
Medical Register maintained by a State Medical Council or to have his name
entered in the Indian Medical Register unless he qualified the screening test in
India prescribed for such purpose and such foreign medical qualification after
such person qualifies that said screening test shall be deemed to be the
recognised medical qualification for the purposes of this Act for that
person.
(4B) A person who is a citizen of India shall not, after such
date as may be specified by the Central Government under sub-section (3), be
eligible to get admission to obtain medical qualification granted by any medical
institution in any foreign country without obtaining an eligibility certificate
issued to him by the Council and in case any such person obtains such
qualification without obtaining such eligibility certificate, he shall not be
eligible to appear in the screening test referred to in sub-section
(4A):
Provided that an Indian citizen who has acquired the medical
qualification from foreign medical institution or has obtained admission in
foreign medical institution before the commencement of the Indian Medical
Council (Amendment) Act, 2001 shall not be required to obtain eligibility
certificate under this sub-section but, if he is qualified for admission to any
medical course for recognised medical qualification in any medical institution
in India, he shall be required to qualify only the screening test prescribed for
enrolment on any State Medical Register or for entering his name in the Indian
Medical Register.
(4C) Nothing contained in sub-sections (4A) and (4B)
shall apply to the medical qualifications referred to in section 14 for the
purposes of that section.
- Any medical institution in India which is desirous of getting a medical
qualification granted by it included in Part I of the Third Schedule may apply
to the Central Government to have such qualification recognised and the Central
Government, after consulting the Council, may by notification in the Official
Gazette, amend Part I of the Third Schedule so as to include such qualification
therein, and any such notification may also direct that an entry shall be made
in the last column of Part-I of the Third Schedule against such medical
qualification declaring that it shall be a recognised medical qualification only
when granted after a specified date.
14. SPECIAL PROVISION IN CERTAIN CASES FOR RECOGNITION OF MEDICAL QUALIFICATIONS GRANTED BY MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS
IN COUNTRIES WITH WHICH THERE IS NO SCHEME OF RECIPROCITY.
- The Central Government after consultation with the Council, may, by
notification in the Official Gazette, direct that medical qualifications granted
by medical institutions in any country out-side India in respect of which a
scheme of reciprocity for the recognition of medical qualifications is not in
force, shall be recognised medical qualification for the purposes of this Act or
shall be so only when granted after a specified date:
Provided that medical practice by persons possessing such
qualifications: -
- shall be permitted only if such persons are enrolled as medical
practitioners in accordance with the law regulating the registration of medical
practitioners for the time being in force in that country;
- shall be limited to the institution to which they are attached for the time
being for the purposes of teaching, research or charitable work ; and
- shall be limited to the period specified in this behalf by the Central
Government by general or special order.
- In respect of any such medical qualification the Central Government, after
consultation with the Council may, by notification in the Official Gazette
direct that it shall be a recognised medical qualification only when granted
before a specified date.
15. RIGHT OF PERSONS POSSESSING
QUALIFICATIONS IN THE SCHEDULES TO BE ENROLLED.
- Subject to the other provisions contained in this Act, the medical
qualifications included in the Schedules shall be sufficient qualification for
enrolment on any State Medical Register.
- Save as provided in section 25, no person other than a medical practitioner
enrolled on a State Medical Register:-
- shall hold office as physician or surgeon or any other office (by whatever
designation called) in Government or in any institution maintained by a local or
other authority;
- shall practice medicine in any State;
- shall be entitled to sign or authenticate a medical or fitness certificate
or any other certificate required by any law to be signed or authenticated by a
duly qualified medical practitioner:
- shall be entitled to give evidence at any inquest or in any court of law as
an expert under section 45 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 on any matter
relating to medicine.
- Any person who acts in contravention of any provision of sub-section (2)
shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or
with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both;
POWER TO REQUIRE INFORMATION AS TO COURSES OF STUDY AND
EXAMINATIONS
16.
Every University or medical institution in India which grants a
recognised medical qualification shall furnish such information as the Council
may, from time to time, require as to the courses of study and examinations to
be undergone in order to obtain such qualification, as to the ages at which such
courses of study and examinations are required to be undergone and such
qualification is conferred and generally as to the requisites for obtaining such
qualification.
17. INSPECTION OF EXAMINATIONS
- The Committee shall appoint such number of medical inspectors as it may deem
requisite to inspect any medical institution, college, hospital or other
institution where medical education is given, or to attend any examination held
by any University or medical institution for the propose of recommending to the
Central Government recognition of medical qualifications granted by the
University or medical institution.
- The medical inspectors shall not interfere with the conduct of any training
or examination, but shall report to the committee on the adequacy of the
standards of medical education including staff, equipment, accommodation,
training facilities prescribed for giving medical education or on the
sufficiency of every examination which they attend.
- The Committee shall forward a copy of any such report to the university or
medical institution concerned and shall also forward a copy with the remarks of
the University or institution thereon, to the Central Government.
18. VISITORS AT EXAMINATIONS
- The Council may appoint such number of visitors as it may deem requisite to
inspect any medical institution, college, hospital or other institution where
medical education is given, or to attend any examination held by any University
or medical institution for the purpose of granting recognised medical
qualifications.
- Any person, whether he is a member of the Council or not may be appointed as
a visitor under this section but a person who is appointed as an inspector under
section 17 for any inspection or examination shall not be appointed as a visitor
for the same inspection or examination.
- The visitors shall not interfere with the conduct of any training or
examination but shall report to the President of the Council on the adequacy of
the standards of medical education including staff, equipment, accommodation,
training and other facilities prescribed for giving medical education or on the
sufficiency of every examination which they attend.
- The report of a visitor shall be treated as confidential unless in any
particular case the President of the Council otherwise directs:
Provided that if the Central Government requires a copy of the
report of a visitor, the Council shall furnish the same.
19. WITHDRAWAL
OF RECOGNITION
- When upon report by the Committee or the visitor it appear to the Council:-
- that the courses of study and examination to be undergone in, or the
proficiency required from candidates at any examination held by any University
or medical institution,
- that the staff, equipment accommodation, training and other facilities for
instruction and training provided in such University or medical institution or
in any college or other institution affiliated to that University, do not
conform to the standards prescribed by the Council, the Council shall make a
representation to that effect to the Central Government.
- After considering such representation, the Central Govt. may send it to the
State Government of the State in which the University or medical Institution is
situated and the State Government shall forward it along with such remarks as it
may choose to make to the University or Medical Institution, with an intimation
of the period within which the University or medical institution may submit its
explanation to the State Government.
- On the receipt of the explanation or, where no explanation is submitted
within the period fixed, then on the expiry of that period, the State Government
shall make its recommendations to the Central Government
- The Central Government, after making such further inquiry, if any, as it may
think fit, may by notification in the official Gazette, direct that an entry
shall be made in the appropriate Schedule against the said medical qualification
declaring that it shall be a recognised medical qualification, only when granted
before a specified date or that the said medical qualification if granted to
students of a specified college or institution affiliated to any university
shall be a recognised medical qualification only when granted before a specified
date or, as the case may be, that the said medical qualification shall be a
recognised medical qualification in relation to a specified college or
institution affiliated to any University only when granted after a specified
date.
19.A. MINIMUM STANDARDS OF MEDICAL EDUCATION
- The Council may prescribe the minimum standards of medical education
required for granting recognised medical qualifications ( other than
postgraduate medical qualifications ) by universities or medical institutions in
India.
- Copies of the draft regulations and of all subsequent amendments thereof
shall be furnished by the Council to all State Governments and the Council shall
before submitting the regulations or any amendment thereof, as the case may be,
to the Central Government for sanction, take into consideration the comments of
any State Government received within three months from the furnishing of the
copies as aforesaid.
- The Committee shall from time to time report to the Council on the efficacy
of the regulations and may recommend to the Council such amendments thereof as
it may think fit.
20. POST-GRADUATE MEDICAL EDUCATION COMMITTEE FOR
ASSISTING COUNCIL IN MATTERS RELATING TO POST-GRADUATE MEDICAL
EDUCATION
- The Council may prescribe standards of Postgraduate Medical Education for
the guidance of Universities, and may advise Universities in the matter of
securing uniform standards for Postgraduate Medical Education throughout India,
and for this purpose the Central Govt. may constitute from among the members of
the Council a Postgraduate Medical Education Committee (hereinafter referred to
as the Post-graduate Committee)
- The Postgraduate Committee shall consist of nine members all of whom shall
be persons possessing postgraduate medical qualifications and experience of
teaching or examining postgraduate students of medicine.
- Six of the members of the Postgraduate Committee shall be nominated by the
Central Government and the remaining three members shall be elected by the
Council from amongst its members.
- For the purpose of considering postgraduate studies in a subject, the
Postgraduate Committee may co-opt, as and when necessary, one or more members
qualified to assist it in that subject.
- The views and recommendations of the Postgraduate Committee on all matters
shall be placed before the Council and if the Council does not agree with the
views expressed or the recommendations made by the Postgraduate Committee on any
matter, the Council shall forward them together with its observations to the
Central Government for decision.
20.A. PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
- The Council may prescribe standards of professional conduct and etiquette
and a code of ethics for medical practitioners.
- Regulations made by the Council under sub-section (1) may specify which
violations thereof shall constitute infamous conduct in any professional
respect, that is to say, professional misconduct, and such provisions shall have
effect notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in
force.
21. INDIAN MEDICAL REGISTER
- The Council shall cause to be maintained in the prescribed manner a register
of medical practitioners to be known as the Indian Medical Register, which shall
contain the names of all persons who are for the time being enrolled on any
State Medical Register and who possess any of the recognised medical
qualifications.
- It shall be the duty of the Registrar of the Council to keep the Indian
Medical Register in accordance with the provisions of this Act and of any orders
made by the Council, and from time to time to revise the register and publish it
in the Gazette of India and in such other manner as may be prescribed.
- Such register shall be deemed to be public document within the meaning of
the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and may be proved by a copy published in the
Gazette of India.
SUPPLY OF COPIES OF THE STATE MEDICAL
REGISTERS
22.
Each State Medical Council shall supply to the Council six printed
copies of the State Medical Register as soon as may be after the commencement of
this Act and subsequently after the first day of April of each year, and each
Registrar of a State Medical Council shall inform the Council without delay of
all additions to and other amendments in the State Medical Register made from
time to time.
REGISTRATION IN THE INDIAN MEDICAL REGISTER
23.
The Registrar of the Council, may, on receipt of the report of
registration of a person in a State Medical Register or on application made in
the prescribed manner by any such person, enter his name in the Indian Medical
Register, Provided that the Registrar is satisfied that the person concerned
possesses a recognised medical qualification.
24. REMOVAL OF NAMES FROM THE INDIAN MEDICAL REGISTER
- If the name of any person enrolled on a State Medical Register is removed
there from in pursuance of any power conferred by or under any law relating to
medical practitioners for the time being in force in any State, the Council
shall direct the removal of the name of such person from the Indian Medical
Register.
- Where the name of any person has been removed from a State Medical Register
on the ground of professional misconduct or any other ground except that he is
not possessed of the requisite medical qualifications or where any application
made by the said person for restoration of his name to the State Medical
Register has been rejected, he may appeal in the prescribed manner and subject
to such conditions including conditions as to the payment of a fee as may be
laid down in rules made by the Central Government in this behalf, to the Central
Government, whose decision, which shall be given after consulting the Council,
shall be binding on the State Government and on the authorities concerned with
the preparation of the State Medical Register.
25. PROVISIONAL REGISTRATION
- A citizen of India possessing a medical qualification granted by a medical
institution outside India included in part II of the Third Schedule, who is
required to undergo practical training as prescribed under sub section (3) of
Section 13, shall, on production of proper evidence that he has been selected
for such practical training in an approved institution be entitled to be
registered provisionally in a State Medical Register and shall be entitled to
practice medicine in the approved institution for the purposes of such training
and for no other purpose.
- A person who has passed the qualifying examination of any university or
Medical Institution in India for the grant of a recognized medical qualification
shall be entitled to be registered provisionally in a State Medical Register for
the purpose of enabling him to be engaged in employment in a resident medical
capacity in any approved institution, or in the Medical Service of the Armed
Forces of the Union, and for no other purpose, on production of proper evidence
that he has been selected for such employment.
- The names of all persons provisionally registered under sub-section (1) or
sub-section (2) in the State Medical Register shall be entered therein
separately from the names of other persons registered therein.
- A person registered provisionally as aforesaid who has completed practical
training referred to in sub section (1) or who has been engaged for the
prescribed period in employment in a resident medical capacity in any approved
institution or in the Medical service of the Armed Forces of the Union, as the
case may be, shall be entitled to registration in the State Medical Register
under Section 15.
26. REGISTRATION OF ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
- If any person whose name is entered in the Indian Medical Register obtains
any title, diploma or other qualification for proficiency in sanitary science,
public health or medicine which is a recognized medical qualification, he shall,
on application made in this behalf in the prescribed manner be entitled to have
any entry stating such other title, diploma or other qualification made against
his name in the Indian Medical Register either in substitution for or in
addition to any entry previously made.
- The entries in respect of any such person in a State Medical Register shall
be altered in accordance with the alterations made in the Indian Medical
Register.
PRIVILEGES OF PERSONS WHO ARE ENROLLED ON THE INDIAN MEDICAL REGISTER
27.
Subject to the conditions and restrictions laid down in this Act, regarding
medical practice by persons possessing certain recognised medical
qualifications, every person whose name is for the time being borne on the
Indian Medical Register shall be entitled according to his qualifications to
practice as a medical practitioner in any part of India and to recover in due
course of law in respect of such practice any expenses, charges in respect of
medicaments or other appliances, or any fees to which he may be
entitled.
PERSONS ENROLLED ON THE INDIAN MEDICAL REGISTER TO NOTIFY CHANGE OF PLACE OF RESIDENCE OR PRACTICE
28.
Every person registered in the Indian Medical Register shall notify
any transfer of the place of his residence or practice to the Council and to the
State Medical Council concerned, within thirty days of such transfer failing
which his right to participate in the election of members to the Council or a
State Medical Council shall be liable to be forfeited by order of the Central
Government either permanently or for such period as may be specified therein.
29. INFORMATION TO BE FURNISHED BY THE COUNCIL AND PUBLICATION THEREOF
- The Council shall furnish such reports, copies of its minutes, abstracts of
its accounts, and other information to the Central Government as that Government
may require.
- The Central Government may publish in such manner as it may think fit, any
report, copy, abstract or other information furnished to it under this section
or under sections 17 and 18.
30. COMMISSION OF
INQUIRY
- Whenever it is made to appear to the Central Government that the Council is
not complying with any of the provisions of this Act, the Central Government may
refer the particulars of the complaint to a Commission of Inquiry consisting of
three persons two of whom shall be appointed by the Central Government, one
being a Judge of a High Court and one by the Council, and such Commission shall
proceed to inquire in a summary manner and to report to the Central Government
as to the truth of the matters charged in the complaint, and in case of any
charge of default or of improper action being found by the commission to have
been established, the Commission shall recommend the remedies, if any, which are
in its opinion necessary.
- The Central Government may require the Council to adopt the remedies so
recommended within such time as, having regard to the report of the Commission,
it may think fit, and if the Council fails to comply with any such requirement,
the Central Government may amend the regulations of the Council, or make such
provision or order or take such other steps as may seem necessary to give effect
to the recommendations of the Commission.
- A Commission of inquiry shall have power to administer oaths, to enforce the
attendance of witnesses and the production of documents, and shall have all such
other necessary powers for the purpose of any inquiry conducted by it as are
exercised by a Civil Court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908.
PROTECTION OF ACTION TAKEN IN GOOD FAITH
31.
No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against the
Government, the Council or a State Medical Council or any Committee thereof, or
any Officer or servant of the Government or Councils aforesaid for anything
which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.
32. POWER TO MAKE RULES
- The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make
rules to carry out the purposes of this Act.
- All rules made under this section shall be laid for not less than thirty
days before both Houses of Parliament as soon as possible after they are made,
and shall be subject to such modifications as Parliament may make during the
session in which they are so laid or the session immediately following.
POWER TO MAKE REGULATIONS
33.
The Council may, with the previous sanction of the Central
Government, make regulations generally to carry out the purposes of this Act,
and without prejudice to the generality of this power, such regulations may
provide for:-
- the management of the property of the Council and the maintenance and audit
of its accounts;
- the summoning and holding of meetings of the Council, the times and places
where such meetings are to be held, the conduct of business thereat and the
number of members necessary to constitute a quorum;
- the resignation of members of the Council;
- the powers and duties of the President and Vice-President
- the mode of appointment of the Executive Committee and other Committees, the
summoning and holding of meetings and the conduct of business of such
Committees;
- the tenure office, and the powers and duties of the Registrar and other
officers and servants of the Council; (fa) the form of the scheme, the
particulars to be given in such scheme, the manner in which the scheme is to be
preferred and the fee payable with the scheme under clause (b) of sub-section
(2) of section 10A; (fb) any other factors under clause (g) of sub-section (7)
of section 10A; (fc) the criteria for identifying a student who has been granted
a medical qualification referred to in the Explanation to sub-section (3) of
section 10B;
- the particulars to be stated, and the proof of qualifications to be given in
applications for registration under this Act;
- the fees to be paid on applications and appeals under this Act;
- the appointment, powers, duties and procedure of medical inspectors and
visitors;
- the courses and period of study and of practical training to be undertaken,
the subjects of examination and the standards of proficiency therein to be
obtained, in Universities or medical institutions for grant of recognized
medical qualifications;
- the standards of staff, equipment, accommodation, training and other
facilities for medical education;
- the conduct of professional examination; qualifications of examiners and the
conditions of admissions to such examinations;
- the standards of professional conduct and etiquette and code of ethics to be
observed by medical practitioners; and (m a) the modalities for conducting
screening tests under sub-section (4A), and under the proviso to sub-section
(4B), and for issuing eligibility certificate under sub-section (4B), of section
13,.
- any matter for which under this Act provision may be made by regulations.
34. REPEAL OF ACT 27 OF 1933
- The Indian Medical Council Act, 1933 is hereby repealed.
- Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, until the Council is
constituted in accordance with the provisions of this Act:-
- the Medical Council of India as constituted immediately before the
commencement of this Act under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1933, with the
addition of seven members nominated thereto by the Central Government from among
persons enrolled on any of the State Medical Registers who possess the medical
qualifications included in Part I of the 3rd Schedule to this Act (hereinafter
referred to as the said Medical Council) shall be deemed to be the Council
constituted under this Act and may exercise any of the powers conferred or
perform any of the duties imposed on the Council; and any vacancy occurring in
the said Medical Council may be filled up in such manner as Central Govt. may
think fit; and
- the Executive Committee and other Committees of the said Medical Council as
constituted immediately before the commencement of this Act, shall be deemed to
be the Executive Committee and the Committees constituted under this Act.h
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