Appeal to Dental Fraternity
How LONG You Will Let DCI Play with your fate
16th March,2011
My esteemed dental colleagues,
I would like to apprise you of certain developments in the Dental Council of India meeting held on 5th and 6th March, 2011, in New Delhi. This is of serious concern to each one of us and hence I request you to kindly go through the material given below.
While many people have been personally affected in some ways by the actions of some people in the Council, let me assure you that this particular letter is aimed at larger and more general issues. We need to keep our profession’s dignity intact, keep our patients’ interests first and foremost and protect the future of our young dental graduates.
In May, 2008, at the General Body meeting of the Dental Council of India (DCI) held in Ooty, presided over by Dr.Anil Kohli as President, Dental Council of India, it was decided to accept the Justice Anil Dev Commission’s recommendation as follows :-
“No member elected or nominated, should hold office of President
or Vice- President of the Dental Council of India for more than two
terms.”
Dr.Anil Kohli has already served two terms as President of the Council. His second term ended when the Chennai High Court passed an order, that his nomination from the Delhi Government became invalid. He was compelled by circumstances to resign.
In the recently held AGM meeting on 5th and 6th March 2011 in New Delhi, one agenda was to elect the new President and a new executive committee member. When we heard that Dr.Kohli was again contesting for the post of President (for the 3rd time !), I obtained an order
from the Hon’ble Chennai Court specifically restraining Dr.Kohli from contesting for the post of President since this was in contravention of the DCI resolution passed earlier. This was to keep up the democratic principles of the Council and to prevent misuse of the provisions of the Dentists Act and the regulations passed by it. The order was duly served to the Dental Council office on the morning of the 5th March 2011.
During the Council meeting on 5th and 6th March, 2011, for unknown reasons, the election of President was adjourned to a later date, whereas the other items in the agenda were all taken up. This undemocratic act clearly shows that the rules were violated to benefit the candidature of Dr.Anil Kohli and indicates that all is not well in the DCI. While most of the members of the DCI are keen to uphold democratic principles for the welfare of the profession, these
undemocratic acts were instigated by a few vocal members. In fact one of the important agenda of the AGM was the election of President and EC member. The AGM was convened at great cost to public money.
However, the election did not take place. There have been instances in previous AGMs where some members (example Dr.Shamsuddin, Calicut) had no voting rights and the election was not postponed to facilitate his candidature.
My questions are :-
1) Why was the election not held for the post of President of
DCI, in the meeting on 5th & 6th March, 2011?
(There was no issue other than Dr.Kohli being barred from
contesting for the post of President for the third time!)
2)Why was the election to the executive committee not held?
(there was no bar to this election taking place)
3)Is the Council subservient only to the privileges and rights
of one individual at the cost of democratic functioning of the august
body and the rightful aspirations of others including full time
academicians to become President, DCI ?
There are issues such as biometrics in colleges, scrapping of internship in the BDS course, violations of rules and ethics by certain members that have been highlighted by several letters and appeals but their issues have not been addressed in a full and fair manner by the authorities.
It is time that the dentists and others are aware of the goings - on in the DCI and ask for remedial steps to safeguard the dignity and future of dentistry in India.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
Dr.R.Gunaseelan.
16th March,2011
My esteemed dental colleagues,
I would like to apprise you of certain developments in the Dental Council of India meeting held on 5th and 6th March, 2011, in New Delhi. This is of serious concern to each one of us and hence I request you to kindly go through the material given below.
While many people have been personally affected in some ways by the actions of some people in the Council, let me assure you that this particular letter is aimed at larger and more general issues. We need to keep our profession’s dignity intact, keep our patients’ interests first and foremost and protect the future of our young dental graduates.
In May, 2008, at the General Body meeting of the Dental Council of India (DCI) held in Ooty, presided over by Dr.Anil Kohli as President, Dental Council of India, it was decided to accept the Justice Anil Dev Commission’s recommendation as follows :-
“No member elected or nominated, should hold office of President
or Vice- President of the Dental Council of India for more than two
terms.”
Dr.Anil Kohli has already served two terms as President of the Council. His second term ended when the Chennai High Court passed an order, that his nomination from the Delhi Government became invalid. He was compelled by circumstances to resign.
In the recently held AGM meeting on 5th and 6th March 2011 in New Delhi, one agenda was to elect the new President and a new executive committee member. When we heard that Dr.Kohli was again contesting for the post of President (for the 3rd time !), I obtained an order
from the Hon’ble Chennai Court specifically restraining Dr.Kohli from contesting for the post of President since this was in contravention of the DCI resolution passed earlier. This was to keep up the democratic principles of the Council and to prevent misuse of the provisions of the Dentists Act and the regulations passed by it. The order was duly served to the Dental Council office on the morning of the 5th March 2011.
During the Council meeting on 5th and 6th March, 2011, for unknown reasons, the election of President was adjourned to a later date, whereas the other items in the agenda were all taken up. This undemocratic act clearly shows that the rules were violated to benefit the candidature of Dr.Anil Kohli and indicates that all is not well in the DCI. While most of the members of the DCI are keen to uphold democratic principles for the welfare of the profession, these
undemocratic acts were instigated by a few vocal members. In fact one of the important agenda of the AGM was the election of President and EC member. The AGM was convened at great cost to public money.
However, the election did not take place. There have been instances in previous AGMs where some members (example Dr.Shamsuddin, Calicut) had no voting rights and the election was not postponed to facilitate his candidature.
My questions are :-
1) Why was the election not held for the post of President of
DCI, in the meeting on 5th & 6th March, 2011?
(There was no issue other than Dr.Kohli being barred from
contesting for the post of President for the third time!)
2)Why was the election to the executive committee not held?
(there was no bar to this election taking place)
3)Is the Council subservient only to the privileges and rights
of one individual at the cost of democratic functioning of the august
body and the rightful aspirations of others including full time
academicians to become President, DCI ?
There are issues such as biometrics in colleges, scrapping of internship in the BDS course, violations of rules and ethics by certain members that have been highlighted by several letters and appeals but their issues have not been addressed in a full and fair manner by the authorities.
It is time that the dentists and others are aware of the goings - on in the DCI and ask for remedial steps to safeguard the dignity and future of dentistry in India.
Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
Dr.R.Gunaseelan.
posted by dentfaculty at 9:48 PM
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