Government Medical College to Come Up in Maharashtra

Chandrapur, July 17, 2015: After a long wait and litigation, the Centre has approved setting up of a Government Medical College (GMC) here in eastern Maharashtra, subject to outcome of a petition pending in the Supreme Court.

The college will have an intake of 100 MBBS students for the current academic year (2015-16).

Prominent political leaders, cutting across party lines, and office-bearers of local chapter of Indian Medical Association had taken up the issue with the Centre and were aggressively campaigning for the college since the past couple of years.

As per a press communique from the district administration, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare today issued an order for establishing a Government Medical College at Chandrapur with an intake of 100 MBBS students for the current academic year 2015-16.

The Medical Council of India (MCI) had disapproved the proposal on June 15, 2015 after finding some shortcomings in the college plan during its inspection.

MCI is the apex body of medical education in the country.

Aggrieved by the decision, Prakash Itankar, a local resident, and others filed a writ petition in Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court, challenging the decision of MCI.

The High Court, in its order dated on July 8, directed the Union Health Ministry to approve the scheme within a week from the ruling.

In response, MCI filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court challenging the HC order.

But the SC refused to issue a stay on HC order, stating the petition would be taken up for hearing in normal process.

As the HC-set deadline was coming to an end, the Health Ministry issued the order on establishing the college, subject to outcome of MCI petition in SC.

PTI