The Delhi Medical Council has once again come under scrutiny after its long-pending election process was put on hold. The development has renewed attention on how the council functions, how its members are elected, and why its role is critical to medical governance in the national capital.
The council’s election process has been halted following objections raised by doctors regarding procedural lapses. Medical professionals flagged concerns about irregularities in the State Medical Register and questioned the sequence in which different stages of the election were being carried out. These concerns led authorities to pause the entire process until clarity and corrections are made.
The episode has triggered wider discussions within the medical community about transparency, fairness, and adherence to statutory rules.
The Delhi Medical Council is a statutory body established under the Delhi Medical Council Act. It functions under the Delhi government and regulates the practice of modern medicine in the National Capital Territory.
The council acts as a professional watchdog. It ensures that doctors practising in Delhi meet required standards of competence and ethics, and it protects patient interests by holding practitioners accountable.
The council maintains the State Medical Register, which is the official database of doctors authorized to practice medicine in Delhi. It grants registrations, processes renewals, and records changes related to qualifications or professional status.
Another major responsibility of the council is addressing complaints of medical negligence or professional misconduct. It conducts inquiries, hears both patients and doctors, and recommends disciplinary action when necessary. The council also issues ethical guidelines and helps maintain professional discipline within the medical community.
The Delhi Medical Council has a total of 25 members. Eight members are elected directly by registered medical practitioners. Ten members are elected by the faculties of medical colleges in Delhi. One member is elected by the Delhi Medical Association.
In addition, four members are nominated by the Delhi government, while two senior officials serve as ex-officio members. This structure aims to balance professional representation with administrative oversight.
The election process begins with an official notification, followed by updating the State Medical Register. Doctors listed in the register are eligible to vote in the direct elections for eight council seats.
Medical colleges then elect their representatives, after which the Delhi Medical Association elects one member. The government completes the process by nominating four members. Once all positions are filled, the council is formally reconstituted for a five-year term.
Doctors objected to the election process after instructions were issued to medical colleges to conduct faculty elections before completing the update of the State Medical Register and the direct elections by doctors. Critics argued that this order violated established norms and could compromise the fairness of the process.
Following written representations to authorities, the election process was stopped until the concerns are addressed.
(Rh/ARC)