Dental Council Saga- How change came about

How Dental Council change was brought about - The real story

It has been almost a week since Dr Dibeyendu Mazumdar defeated Dr Anil Kohli to become the President of the DCI. It is a defining moment for the future of dentistry and the DCI. We think that this is a moment that the majority of dentists in the country have been waiting for. It is also the time for us to explain the positions we took over the last several years either individually or through the HMA Trust. Following the emphatic win by Dr Mazumdar many of us received congratulatory messages. While we did play a responsible role in exposing several irregularities in the administration and regulation of dentistry, we would like to state clearly that Dr Mazumdar’s victory was the result of his own perseverance and goodwill. In fact we attribute his victory to two reasons.

1. The relentless efforts of Dr Mazumdar in winning the confidence of the members of the Dental Council by his mature and humble approach to the various issues.

2. The wisdom and discretion of the members of the DCI who voted for his success.

His victory is also a referendum on the policies of the previous leadership. In a recent Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court, Dr Anil Kohli and a few members have impleaded in a writ petition denouncing the HMA Trust as some kind of inconvenient organization that was unnecessarily meddling in the otherwise smooth running of the Council. It alleged that the HMA Trust and some of us have gone to court on various issues for frivolous reasons. We would like to clarify that the HMA Trust is an independent non profit Trust set up under the Tamilnadu Society Registration Act. Its purposes are clearly defined and we would like to state the various measures taken up by us over the last three years and leave you to be the judge. Approaching the administration and the Courts of law are a genuine and legitimate means of seeking redressal in a democracy. The fact that our attempts resulted in a favourable outcome underlines the fact that we were successful in exposing several irregularities and violations.

1. The HMA trust used the enabling tool of the RTI to gather significant information about various aspects of the functioning of the DCI. In all we have used the RTI 34 times for obtaining information from the Health Ministry, UGC, Deemed Universities and of course the DCI and the State Dental Councils.

2. We petitioned the Government of India, PMO’s office, Dental Council, Medical council and other administrative bodies including state governments regarding various irregularities. This included the scrapping of Internship to benefit private managements, teachers in various dental colleges who were living overseas, non -payment of stipend etc

3. We have brought to the attention of the public, media and the dentists the various violations and improprieties of various health administrations including admission procedures etc

4. Some of us, with the support of the HMA Trust, have filed Writ Petitions in the High Court questioning illegal nomination to the DCI by politically powerful persons. The result of one such petition (WP No 5102/ 2011) resulted in the Madras High Court finding the nomination of Dr Anil Kohli invalid. There was no other means to expose the irregularity of a person in such a high position. In fact we had already exhausted administrative appeals to the Chief Minister of Delhi and the Lt Governor of Delhi before seeking legal recourse. We are proud to say that the subsequent resignation of the President paved the way for a new dispensation in the DCI.

5. We have persistently opposed the extravaganza, show and celebrity status bestowed on the previous President by private institutions. This included awards of Honorary Doctorates etc which was obviously a conflict of interest by the head of a regulatory body and the institution being regulated (Universities with dental colleges). We will continue to oppose it.

6. We have intervened whenever the due process of law or procedure was being subverted. In one instance Dr Kohli sought re-election as President on the day after he was compelled to resign. Our representation was accepted favourably by the council which decided to give 40 days notice before elections.

7. We have opposed the head of a statutory regulatory body making a donation to the PM’s relief fund. The presented cheque board had the name of DCI whereas it was collected from various private dental colleges. It is definitely not the mandate of the President of a regulatory body to collect money from private parties and present it to the Prime Minister with the name of DCI emblazoned on it.

8. We further petitioned the Delhi Dental Council to take punitive action against Dr Kohli and even remove his name from the Dentist’s register because he used the photograph of himself and the PM on the personal website of his private clinic in clear violation of the Code of Ethics- that too using the name of the PM of the country. What kind of a message is the head of a regulatory body sending to the young dentists of our country. When the President of the Council does it, the actions must be very strict.

9. We have opposed the manner in which the Biometrics contract was sanctioned. The replies to RTI from the council is unclear about whether due procedure and due diligence were applied in the contract. We also understand that the biometrics is eyewash and it is being manipulated. We have asked for either the biometrics to be removed or to be implemented strictly. Never as an instrument of personal harassment.

10. We have repeatedly petitioned the DCI to not be partial to some persons and institutions while harassing others. The President DCI has enormous discretionary powers which have been misused indiscriminately to favour some despite our complaints. This should never be repeated by any president against anybody. Very recently one of our trust members was relieved from his full time teaching post for the simple reason of being a member of a pro-active NGO. The politics of petty vendetta must stop.

Is there anything in our agenda that sounds immoral or incorrect????

In the same week when Anna Hazare the great Gandhian socialist has begun a fast unto death to implement policies (Lokpal Bill) which will make the mightiest in the country answerable for their wrongs, we rededicate our endeavours to have a clean policy in the regulation of health.

We take this opportunity to thank all our beneficiaries, many of whom could not come out publicly. We encourage more people to join us to make health services and regulation a friendly one for the benefit of humanity- not just for the privileged few!!

Wishing that Dr Dibeyendu Mazumdar and the Dental Council will make a great difference to the future of dentistry in India!

Flash News: The process to reintroduce Internship and reduce a Year has already been initiated. It will come into effect after the Health Ministry OK's it. Dr Mazumdar has written to all States saying NO to new dental colleges. A good beginning!!! As reported in the Times of India E News!!

Warm Regards

Dr R. Gunaseelan- President HMA Trust

Dr George Paul- Executive Trustee HMA Trust

Dr Kishore Nayak- Trustee

Dental Council of India gets New President

It must be a great day, the 2nd April 2011. India wins world cup and so also Dr Anil Kohli gets defeated by Dr Mazumdar.
Thanks to all those who have worked for the betterment of profession to ensure that DCI remains true to its purpose. Now Dr Mahesh Varma as VP of DCI and Dr Mazumdar in command things will be set right and will bring back dignity to all and not to select few.

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.

Dr Anil Kohli caught in his own web ?

DCI president Dr Kohli, Gone for NOW

His name has also been taken off the website on 2 Nov, it is time to sustain effort and get DCI rid of tainted ones.

For actual clipping of NEWS CLICK HERE

If president has any shame he should call it a day.

Dr Kohli, Dental council of India president - Time to GO

Dental Council President Resigns ? After Appeal
The petition, which was filed by George Paul of Salem on the ground that the Delhi government had no powers to nominate a member as it was not a state, asked under what authority Kohli was holding the Dental Council president’s office.The letter signed by R Gunaseelan, former member of DCI, S Murukesan, HMA Trust, and P Kishore Nayak, Bangalore, asks the Dental Council members to stand up for the truth and procedural correctness in running the DCI by asking its president to step down.NEWSLINK

WE have got unconfirmed news that Dr Anil Kohli has resigned yesterday evening (23 Oct 2010)

Dental Corruption Institution

Crusade on Internet for DCI
Dental Council Of India is responsible for sabotaging the profession of dentistry,Anil Kohli who is the President is responsible for mushrooming of Dental Colleges all over the country and also Extorting huge amounts of money from the colleges for granting permission.This money could have been used to better the facilities of the colleges.

Many National News channels have reported with proof that he has amassed huge amounts of money His daughter herself who is practicing dentistry in the USA but has little concern for the students whose poor parents put in their life's earning to get a better future for their children and find out that there are no jobs or future for them. SEE THE NEW SITE ON DCI

Dental Council of India fights for survival ?

DCI - Are they now fighting for survival, or trying to come out clean ?
The DCI executive committee which met last month identified ten key issues which need to be addressed.

The DCI plans to cut the seat matrix of colleges from 100 to 50 seats and 50 to 30 seats. "There is a serious problem of quality faculty in stand-alone dental colleges in the country. Since most subjects in BDS in the first two years are similar to that of the MBBS courses, the faculty could be shared between medical and dental colleges run by the same institution. The hospital facility too could be used by dental colleges.

The DCI has written to all chief ministers not to allow opening of new dental colleges - Ha Ha

Currently, 1.18 lakh registered dental surgeons are in the dental register but only 6,000 doctors were employed in the government sector at primary health centres. About 23,000 dentists graduate from 289 dental colleges every year. TIMES NEWS