Delhi Medical Council in state of paralysis with ₹2.5 crore payments stuck

The registrar, who also functions as the authorised signatory for all official transactions, has not been replaced since February 2025

Published on: May 10, 2025, 05:34:09 IST

By Ridhima Gupta

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The Delhi Medical Council (DMC) is in a state of administrative and financial paralysis, with critical payments worth nearly ₹2.5 crore – for critical functions such as payment of rent, salaries, tax dues, among others – stuck due to the registrar’s post lying vacant for over three months.

Delhi Medical Council in state of paralysis with ₹2.5 crore payments stuck

The registrar, who also functions as the authorised signatory for all official transactions, has not been replaced since February 2025, leading to an escalating backlog of unpaid dues, officials said.

A council meeting held on Tuesday acknowledged the crisis, noting that the lack of an interim or officiating registrar had frozen essential operations. Draft minutes of the meeting, accessed by HT, describe the situation as a “critical administrative and financial paralysis.”

According to Delhi Medical Council Act, 1997, the registrar who also functions as the authorised signatory for all official transactions and has the power to authorise payment disbursements.

DMC is a statutory body responsible for regulating the practice of medicine in Delhi. Its functions include registering medical practitioners, maintaining a register of registered practitioners, and regulating their professional conduct. DMC’s office is situated on IT Park Road in Metro Vihar on a property owned by DMRC.

The backlog includes ₹30 lakh in unpaid Goods and Services Tax (GST) and ₹17 lakh in rent for April 1 (they have to pay three months’ advance rent) owed to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). “If the dues are not cleared, the council risks being charged 24% annual interest on delayed rent, with DMRC also demanding ₹72 lakh in overdue rent interest from 2019 to 2021,” a DMC member said on condition of anonymity.

Employee salaries for March 2025, amounting to ₹15 lakh, are also pending, alongside ₹15 lakh owed for a Life Insurance Corporation policy covering leave encashment and gratuity.

The deadline to file a GST appeal involving ₹55 lakh has lapsed, potentially inviting punitive action, the member cited above added.

There are growing concerns about digital disruptions as well, DMC members said.

Payments for internet lease charges due from April 28 remain pending. Additional dues listed in the meeting minutes include ₹23 lakh owed to a vendor, ₹7 lakh for an annual maintenance contract renewal, and ₹28.8 lakh earmarked for development-related expenses.

The crisis began when the tenure of former registrar Dr Girish Tyagi ended in February. A council member told HT that as of now, DMC has recommended Dr Vijay Dhankar for the position and forwarded his name to the Delhi government for approval, but officials say they are still awaiting a response.

Repeated attempts to obtain comments from Delhi government officials regarding the delay went unanswered.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ridhima Gupta
Ridhima Gupta is a Principal Correspondent at Hindustan Times, where she covers healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and public health policy. Her reporting centers on Delhi’s major hospitals (AIIMS, Safdarjung, Lok Nayak), the state health department, and emerging medical trends. Ridhima is particularly interested in reporting on healthcare issues through the lens of women, children, and persons with disabilities. Her work often explores the intersection of healthcare and public policy, examining how these factors shape access health care. Based in New Delhi, many of her reports have led to direct government action over the years, in different city. Earlier this year, she completed a media training workshop on the Impact of Extreme Heat on Health, organised by the Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC), further strengthening her interest in reporting on the intersection of climate change and public health. A postgraduate from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Ridhima has around a decade of experience in journalism. She began her career as a trainee television reporter with Mirror Now in Mumbai and has since worked across multiple cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi, contributing to both print and broadcast newsrooms. She is a recipient of the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022) for her reporting on education, disability, and women’s issues. Before joining Hindustan Times, Ridhima worked with The Times of India, New Indian Express and News18. A native of Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, Ridhima completed her undergraduate studies in Biotechnology. And when she is not working as a journalist she likes to paint and go on nature hikes.Read More

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