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State government takes over nursing council, suspends its president
Explaining the same, Dr Prakash Wakode, joint director, DMER, state said, “There were many issues that were brought to our notice. Firstly, the council was conducting examinations and deciding on it which is not its job.
On allegations of financial irregularities and corruption, the state directorate of medical education and research (DMER) not only dissolved the state nursing council body but also has taken over the same.
An enquiry against the then president of the state nursing council Ramling Mali, has been launched by DMER, who has been suspended.
Explaining the same, Dr Prakash Wakode, joint director, DMER, state said, “There were many issues that were brought to our notice. Firstly, the council was conducting examinations and deciding on it which is not its job.
“Secondly, the allegations also include of financial irregularities, election related issues like manipulating elections, registrations of the nursing institutes and inspections.
“Looking at the allegations we chose to dissolve the current body and suspend Mali from the position of president.The elections will take place but only after a year. The council will be run by the state for a while now and we will try to regularise it.Meanwhile we will conduct a detailed investigation regarding how the board functions.”
Mali said, “I stepped down from the position and was not suspended. My tenure for five years came to an end and I chose to leave the chair of state president. This cannot be termed as suspension. The government blames that I manipulated the elections and ‘ruled’ the council for 10 years which is absolutely wrong. I was elected by the people and hence the allegation is not right.”
Talking about the irregularities when asked within the council during his tenure as alleged by the DMER he said, “There has been no irregular activity within the council.”
Indian Medical Association, Maharashtra president, Avinash Bhondwe, when contacted he said, “This is not surprising .The government is known to interfere in the work of professional bodies. The government wants to be able to control all functioning bodies, be it the Medical Council of India or any other such association.
“Such bodies cannot be ruled or looked into by the government. They are only quasi judicial body where equal representation should happen. We have observed that in such cases, often the state government or the ministers have vested interests, hence targeting such councils which is condemnable.”
