KMC comatose for six months
30 cases pending hearing
The Karnataka Medical Council (KMC) has not been functioning for the past six months, leaving complaints of medical negligence to bite the dust.
Of the 75 cases before the Council, 30 are pending hearing. The proceedings came to a halt two months before the elections to the Council were held in August 2011. Even after announcing the poll results in September, the KMC has failed to constitute a new council.
As per the provision in the KMC Act, the previous council can function till the new council is formed. So far, only one case was heard on December 29, that too under direction from the High Court and the Medical Council of India (MCI).
When asked, KMC Registrar Dr N Vidyasagar said the case was taken up on “emergency grounds”. Dr Chikknanjappa, president in-charge of KMC said he has no authority to conduct the hearing as the new members have been elected.
“We as old members cease to function. If there is a direction from the Medical Education Minister to hear the cases till the new president is elected, we can hear the cases,” he said.
When contacted, Medical Education Minister S A Ramdas told Deccan Herald that the existing council could function until the new president is elected.
“The incumbent president can work as caretaker until his successor takes charge. I will take a decision the issue in a week’s time,” he said.
Delay
The delay in constituting the new Council is due to he Medical Education Department’s failure to send its nominations for the Council.
Another reason is controversy over the KMC elections in which nearly 80 per cent of the registered doctors in the State had not received the ballot papers.
