MCI chief resigns under duress

The cold war between the newly appointed chairman of the Medical Council of India (MCI), Dr K K Talwar, and secretary Dr Sangeeta Sharma is in the open, with the latter alleging Talwar's behaviour was ''insulting'' and ''humiliating''.

The Indian Express had reported, that the secretary had resigned last Friday following a heated argument with Talwar, though, the two had denied anything was wrong. 

The issue was taken up at an emergency meeting on Monday.

In her resignation letter, Sharma told The Indian Express that she was putting in papers under ''duress'' and even as board members were calling for withdrawal of her resignation as it was not in the interest of the council, while earlier they had been threatening her that she would be allowed to do no work at the council after 30 June.

Former chairman of the council, Dr S K Sarin had appointed Dr Sharma, however, the union health ministry had raised objections to her appointment and in a letter to the MCI last month had enquired wwhether she fulfilled the requirements for the post.
 
The letter also mentioned the alleged corruption cases pending against her. ''It may be clarified whether vigilance clearance / integrity certificate in respect of Dr Sangeeta Sharma was obtained from the borrowing department, before sending the offer of appointment,'' read the letter.

The health ministry had earlier also sought to know if due process as per recruitment rules had been followed as here appointment was based solely on the request of the chairman, BOG.