Appointment of MSDRT's advisors : Slur raised over appointment
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 12 2013:
A strong suspicion has been raised that two dental doctors from Andhra Pradesh have been appointed as advisors of the Manipur State Dental Registration Tribunal against the prescribed norms.
According to a source, the Principal Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) issued an order on August 6 last for constituting the Manipur State Dental Registration Tribunal to pave way for establishment of the Manipur State Dental Council under the Dental Council of India (DCI) .
When The Sangai Express contacted the Principal Secretary on the matter, he replied that the file is still with the Minister and it is yet to be finalised.
He added that Advisors can be appointed from any part of the country.
As per the Government order, the Manipur State Dental Registration Tribunal was constituted with Dr A Sukumar (MDS), Dr T Surajbala (BDS) and Dr Th Somorendro as its members under sub-clause I of Section 32 of the Dentist Act.
After the tribunal was set up, the Principal Secretary issued another order pertaining to appointment of advisors.
Subsequently, Dr Revathi P and Dr B Venkat Ramana Reddy were appointed as advisors of the tribunal.
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Dr B Venkat Ramana Reddy is Vice-Principal of Sibar Institute of Dental Sciences, Andhra Pradesh besides being a Professor and Oral Pathology, Head of Department.
Dr Revathi P is also Orthodontics, Head of Department at the same institute.
The very act of appointing advisors for the tribunal is unreasonable and mischievous, said the source.
There is no provision in the Indian Dental Act 1948 for appointment of advisors for any dental registration tribunals.
Appointment of advisors from amongst dental professionals practising outside the State which is not prescribed in the relevant Act has turned out to be an act of humiliating the qualified dental professionals of the State.
It has also evoked strong suspicion that the two dental professionals were appointed as advisors to facilitate their induction as members of DCI.
If they get inducted as DCI members, they would enjoy the advantage of going for inspections when new dental colleges are established.
They would also have opportunity to regulate course mechanisms of dental colleges and they may even get chances to participate in the decision making process of DCI.
These advantages could have been enjoyed by dental professionals of the State had the State Government not appointed advisors from amongst dental professionals practising outside the State.
Generally, DCI members are selected from amongst dental professionals holding MDS degree and there are many dental professionals in the State who are in possession of the same degree, informed the source.