MCI Secretary quits over Chairman's 'rudeness'; goes on leave

She put in her papers on June 14, stating that she was resigning under duress and hoped that "no other official of any rank in the MCI shall be given such an insulting treatment in the future".

"An issue is being made out of my appointment right from the time I was selected. I was threatened repeatedly during the period intervening my selection and joining. I am being troubled and now I want to leave in peace."

"I have resigned and the Board can consider my resignation instead of defaming me by making an issue out of my appointment which is legal and valid, as clarified to the Ministry of Health," Sangeeta Sharma told PTI when contacted.

She has, meanwhile, proceeded on leave from today and said she was under tremendous stress due to the situation prevailing over her resignation. "I had gone for a medical check-up today and doctors have advised me rest".

"Yesterday the BOG asked me to withdraw my resignation, but I have not resigned to reconsider". The Board is meeting here tomorrow and might take up the matter of Sharma's resignation though she is serving her one month notice period from June 15.
Incidentally, this is peak time for the MCI which has to clear the pending permissions to colleges seeking undergraduate admissions. The MCI has to clear all pending files till June 30. Meanwhile, Sangeeta Sharma today said she had been receiving threatening calls at her residence landline with some people asking her not to join the MCI and be prepared to face the music in case she did.

The Ministry of Health had, on May 11, written to the MCI BOG asking whether Sharma's appointment had been made under the prescribed recruitment rules of the Government and whether the permission of the Appointments Committee of Cabinet was sought.
"I have replied to all these queries satisfactorily but the Health Ministry keeps raising the matter of my appointment," Sharma today said.

In her resignation letter to BOG chairman KK Talwar, Sharma has said, "I am forced to resign because of your repeated indecent behaviour towards me and shouting and reprimanding me for not knowing something which happened in the past".

She added in her resignation that "the BOG Chairman was fully aware of the fact that I am a recent incumbent to my position and my humiliation, especially before junior staff, is insulting, humiliating and damaging to my dignity".

She also stated that "the treatment meted out to me is much below the social acceptability and sanctioned behaviour of the man of the status of Chairman of BOG particularly vis-à-vis a lady officer of any rank let alone that of the Secretary of MCI".
Sharma was appointed on March 8 this year and she joined as MCI Secretary on March 25. KK Talwar did not answer his phone, despite repeated attempt. He has reportedly not yet taken a view on Sharma’s resignation.