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Modi govt forced to refer NMC Bill to Parl panel; docs end stir

Published

9 years ago

January 2, 2018

Modi govt forced to refer NMC Bill to Parl panel; docs end stir

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Centre refers NMC Bill to a Parliamentary standing committee amid country-wide protests by doctors, IMA representatives over proposal for scrapping MCI

In a setback for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, the Centre was on Tuesday forced to refer its ambitious, albeit controversial, National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill to a Parliamentary Standing Committee for further discussions in the aftermath of massive protests by doctors against the draft legislation.

The decision by the Centre to refer the Bill that seek to replace the Medical Council of India (MCI) with a new body and push for other major reforms in the medical profession to the Parliamentary panel came hours after Union minister for health JP Nadda had informed the Rajya Sabha that the draft legislation was to be introduced in the Lok Sabha for consideration. The Bill had figured in Tuesday’s list of legislative business of the Lok Sabha.

As Samajwadi Party MP Naresh Agarwal demanded a reply from the Centre in Rajya Sabha on the protests against the Bill and got support from various Opposition members, Nadda said: “The Bill has been listed for consideration in the Lok Sabha today and all the issues arising out of it will be discussed. I had a meeting with members of the Indian Medical Association yesterday and we were able to clear whatever doubts they had in their mind on the Bill. I wish to make it clear that this Bill is beneficial both for the medical profession and the country.”

Nadda, however, failed to explain why the medical practitioners had gone on a nationwide-stir since Tuesday morning if he had successfully cleared their doubts over the Bill as he claimed. The health minister instead told the Rajya Sabha that “as far the strike (by agitated doctors) is concerned, we are in talks with them… we have heard them and have placed our perspective in front of them… discussions on the Bill are on”.

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While Nadda had suggested that the government was prepared to go ahead with the process of getting the contentious legislation passed, at least by the Lok Sabha, Union parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar told reporters in the afternoon that the Bill was being referred to a standing committee for further discussions on its contentious clauses. The committee has been asked to give its report before the Budget session.

With the government evidently succumbing to the protests by doctors and members of the Indian Medical Association against the NMC Bill, the agitating medical professionals who had brought services at various hospitals across the country to a grinding halt on Tuesday morning withdrew their stir.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, which was tabled in Parliament on Friday, seeks to replace the MCI and also proposes allowing practitioners of alternative medicines, such as homoeopathy and ayurveda, practise allopathy after completing a “bridge course”.

“We called off our strike as the Bill has been referred to a Parliamentary standing committee which has members from diverse fields and there should now be a fruitful discussion. We are thankful to all the Lok Sabha members for supporting us,” IMA’s Dr KK Aggarwal, who was spearheading the stir, told reporters.

The IMA has been strongly opposing the NMC Bill saying it will “cripple” the functioning of medical professionals by making them completely answerable to the bureaucracy and non- medical administrators.

“The NMC Bill in the present form is not acceptable. This bill is anti-poor, anti-people, non representative, undemocratic and anti-federal in character,” newly-appointed IMA national president Dr Ravi Wankhedkar has said.

The IMA has also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union health minister urging them to redraft the Bill and rectify some of its provisions. It claimed that the provision in the Bill which allows AYUSH graduates to practise modern medicine after completing a bridge course will promote quackery.

Clause 49 of the Bill calls for a joint sitting of the National Medical Commission, the Central Council of Homoeopathy and the Central Council of Indian Medicine at least once a year “to enhance the interface between homoeopathy, Indian Systems of Medicine and modern systems of medicine”. The Bill proposes constitution of four autonomous boards entrusted with conducting undergraduate and postgraduate education, assessment and rating of medical institutions and registration of practitioners under the National Medical Commission.

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Related Topics:IIMC Narendra Modi Rajya Sabha

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PM Modi to visit Varanasi, Kedarnath on October 24-25

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Varanasi and Kedarnath on October 24 and 25. His proposed itinerary includes a factory inauguration in Varanasi, an Indian Air Force air show and a review of the Kedarnath Corridor project.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Kedarnath in Uttarakhand on October 24 and 25. His proposed two-day itinerary includes development-related engagements in Varanasi and a review of infrastructure work at the Kedarnath Corridor.

In Varanasi, the Prime Minister is likely to inaugurate a factory in the Sevapuri area and attend programmes related to the city’s development. The visit will also coincide with an Indian Air Force aerial display at Namo Ghat, where he is expected to attend the event on October 25.

PM Modi likely to attend Varanasi air show

The Indian Air Force’s aerial display, titled Wings Over Ganges, is scheduled over the Ganga at Namo Ghat on October 22, 24 and 25.

The event is expected to feature Rafale, Sukhoi and Tejas fighter aircraft, along with performances by the Surya Kiran aerobatic team and the Sarang helicopter display team.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is also expected to attend the air show. Officials have been preparing for the event, with security and crowd management among the key considerations because of the anticipated gathering.

Kedarnath Corridor project review on October 25

Modi is also expected to travel to Kedarnath on October 25 to assess progress on the Kedarnath Corridor development project.

The review is expected to cover ongoing infrastructure projects and efforts to improve facilities in and around the Himalayan pilgrimage centre.

The proposed visit brings together public and development-related engagements in Varanasi with an assessment of infrastructure work at Kedarnath.

India News

CJP leaders Saurav Das, Ashutosh Ranka to be released after 7 days in jail

CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka are set to be released after seven days in judicial custody following an order by a Special Executive Magistrate in Delhi.

Published

13 hours ago

October 21, 2026

APNLive Desk

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka are set to be released after spending seven days in judicial custody, following an order by a Special Executive Magistrate in Delhi on Wednesday.

The two leaders had been in judicial custody since October 14 in connection with an incident at Jantar Mantar, which is no longer a designated site for protests. They were accused of entering the restricted protest area and violating conditions linked to maintaining public peace.

The magistrate’s order brings their period of judicial custody to an end after their detention and subsequent remand. Their custody had initially been ordered for five days before being extended by another two days on October 19.

Delhi High Court declines to intervene

Earlier on Wednesday, the Delhi High Court declined to interfere with the judicial custody of Das and Ranka. The court asked them to await the outcome of the proceedings before the Special Executive Magistrate and indicated that they could approach the appellate court if their grievances remained unresolved.

The leaders had challenged the decision to place them in judicial custody. The proceedings came amid continuing legal disputes over police action against protesters at Jantar Mantar.

Why the CJP leaders were detained

Das and Ranka were detained in connection with a protest at Jantar Mantar against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The protest also involved demands directed at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Jantar Mantar had recently been removed from the list of designated protest venues under a Delhi Police order. The police alleged that the CJP members entered the site despite the restrictions and obstructed officials carrying out their duties.

The police also cited alleged violations of previously executed peace bonds. Das and Ranka had earlier been released after furnishing bonds and undertaking to maintain peace.

The authorities initiated proceedings under preventive provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). While the two leaders were sent to judicial custody, another CJP member, Ajinkya Shinde, was released on a personal bond during the earlier proceedings.

The latest order directs the release of Das and Ranka after seven days in custody. The case has drawn attention to the restrictions on demonstrations at Jantar Mantar and the legal proceedings arising from the CJP’s protests.

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Tiger Shroff firing case: 3 accused sent to police custody till October 31

Three accused in the firing at actor Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai have been remanded to police custody until October 31. Investigators sought their custody for further questioning and weapon recovery.

Published

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Three men accused in the firing at actor Tiger Shroff’s car in Mumbai have been remanded to police custody until October 31. A magistrate court passed the order on Wednesday after hearing the police and defence arguments.

The accused were brought to Mumbai from Kota in Rajasthan earlier in the day. The Mumbai Crime Branch, which is investigating the case, had sought 14 days of custody for further questioning and a detailed probe.

The three accused have been identified as Rehan, alias Sukka, from Sonipat in Haryana; Ritik Kurmi, alias Roshan, originally from Begusarai in Bihar and currently residing in Mumbai; and Phool Singh from Haryana.

Why police sought custody

The investigating team told the court that custodial interrogation was required to recover the weapons used in the firing and investigate the suspected conspiracy behind the incident.

Police also informed the court that the accused had destroyed two mobile phones. Investigators said further questioning was necessary to establish the motive behind the shooting and examine the circumstances surrounding the attack.

The defence opposed the request for extended police custody. Lawyers Ajinkya Mirgal and Satyabrat Joshi argued that the accused had already been questioned during transit remand and disputed the need for further custody to recover the weapons.

After hearing both sides, the court remanded all three men to police custody until October 31.

Three accused brought to Mumbai from Kota

According to the report, Kota city police apprehended the trio from a train on Monday after receiving specific information. They were subsequently handed over to Mumbai Police, which formally arrested them and produced them before a magistrate.

A court in Kota had granted transit remand to facilitate their transfer to Mumbai.

What happened in the firing incident

The firing took place in Mumbai’s Juhu area on Sunday evening, when at least two men fired shots at Tiger Shroff’s car before fleeing on a motorcycle.

The actor escaped relatively unhurt, while his driver and a bystander sustained injuries. Mumbai Police said five to six rounds were fired at the vehicle.

A motorcycle allegedly used by the assailants was later found abandoned in Andheri.

Mumbai Police have registered a case under provisions relating to attempted murder and the Arms Act. The investigation is continuing to establish the motive and recover evidence connected with the incident.