SC Nod To New MCI Oversight Committee, Lodha Panel Replaced [Read Order]

“They all are people of impeccable integrity.But the whole issue is whether they have time for all this..no doubt all of them are undoubtedly outstanding I am one of their patients. They do not have time for CJI leave alone MCI”, Chief Justice J S Khehar said (raising a peal of laughter) looking at the list furnished by Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar

 The Supreme Court today permitted the union government to replace the oversight committee headed by former Chief Justice R M Lodha  set up to supervise the functioning of the Medical Coucil of India (MCI) with a new panel of five “very eminent” doctors. One year term of Lodha panel had expired and it was not given an extension.

The apex court had in its order of May 2 last year said the OC would "function till the Central Government puts in place any other appropriate mechanism", but had gone on to add that it would "function for a period of one year, unless suitable mechanism is brought in place earlier".

“They all are people of impeccable integrity.But the whole issue is whether they have time for all this..no doubt all of them are undoubtedly outstanding I am one of their patients. They do not have time for CJI leave alone MCI”, Chief Justice J S Khehar said (raising a peal of laughter) looking at the list furnished by Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar.

Members of the Committee;

1. Dr. V.K. Paul, Professor & Head, Paediatrics, AIIMS, New Delhi


2. Dr. Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi


3. Dr. Jagat Ram, Director, PGIMER, Chandigarh


4. Dr. BN Gangadharan, Director, NIMHANS, Bengaluru


5. Dr. Nikhil Tandon, Professor & Head, Endocrinology, AIIMS, New Delhi.

It also gave the Centre liberty to replace any doctor in the list with another if he does not wish to be a part of the oversight committee.

"We accept the proposal made to this Court by Mr. Ranjit Kumar, learned Solicitor General of India on behalf of the Union of India. We grant liberty to the Union of India to nominate one of the members of the reconstituted Oversight Committee, as its Chairperson", said the Bench.

The Bench also held that the functions, which are assigned to the Oversight Committee, which included the following:

1. a) the Oversight Committee will have the authority to oversee the functioning of Medical Council of India.


2. b) all decisions/recommendations of the MCI will require approval of the Oversight Committee before they are communicated to the Central Government.


3. c) the Oversight Committee will be free to issue appropriate remedial directions for improvement in the functioning of MCI.


4. d) the Oversight Committee will function till the Central Government puts in place any other appropriate mechanism, or until further orders.

The bench had yesterday asked the Centre to constitute a panel which would replace the oversight committee set up last year by the apex court to oversee the MCI's functioning till the government put in place an alternate mechanism.

During the hearing, senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, appearing for some medical colleges, had told the bench that till date, no alternative mechanism had been put in place by the Centre despite the fact that the oversight panel was to function for only one year or till a suitable mechanism was evolved.

He had argued that the Medical Council of India was bound by directions of the oversight committee but the council was not adhering to them

Read the Order Here