Health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan has chosen to accede to the "request" of Medical Council of India CVO, HK Jethi to revert him to his parent cadre instead of providing him the police protection he sought to continue investigations of graft in MCI.
Jethi had alleged that powerful interests in MCI were out to stymie investigations against MCI officials including those against former MCI president Dr Ketan Desai.
Dr Vardhan said on Friday that a strong panel was looking into the rot in MCI, and that the ministry has sent Jethi's "request" to the Department of Personnel & Training (DoP&T). This, despite the Central Vigilance Commission's October 21 letter to the ministry asking it to go "through" Jethi's investigation reports and submit a report to the CVC.
The CVC also asked the health ministry to "provide necessary secretarial assistance" to Jethi (which was being denied to him), as also "necessary protection to him by taking up with the police."
This is the second case of a CVO not finding favour with Dr Vardhan. Earlier, soon after taking charge, he had removed AIIMS CVO, Sanjiv Chaturvedi following a spate of letters from a powerful BJP functionary.
Jethi was probing several cases of graft in MCI, including against former MCI president Dr Ketan Desai. With Dr Vardhan opting to send him to his parent cadre, the question being asked is: Who is saving Dr Ketan Desai?
On April 29, Jethi had requested the health secretary to forward his application to the Department of Personal and Training (DoPT) for repatriation to his parent cadre. He said he was being harassed for pursuing cases of corruption in MCI. "Situation has not improved, instead getting worsen and the President MCI is using all pressure tactics for destabilizing the functioning of the vigilance division. Under these circumstances, I am feeling scared as I am fighting alone against corruption in the MCI against the wishes of strong lobby..."
On July 9, joint secretary in health ministry Dr Vishwas Mehta wrote to joint director (policy), CBI, "In order to ensure the corruption is rooted out from MCI, an independent CVO has been posted by the Central Government. The CVO, who is performing his duties with the aim to eradicate corruption and malpractice in the council has also submitted that he is being harassed and is not being extended cooperation by the MCI administration. He (CVO, MCI) has submitted some instances regarding vindictive attitude/harassment by president and MCI administration."
Stating in the letter that Jethi had alleged that he was forced to write a letter to the CBI, the contents of which he did not agree to. "He expressed his inability to issue the letter as per the convenience of the President MCI administration," Dr Mehta wrote, requesting the CBI to conduct a comprehensive enquiry to find out the veracity of the allegation.
But on October 10, the health ministry sent Jethi's request to be sent back to his parent cadre to DoPT, and asked the DoPT to forward a panel of names of suitable candidates for the post of CVO, MCI to the ministry. Then the CVC intervened.
President of MCI, Dr Jayshreeben Metha, was unavailable for comment. Calls to her office went unanswered. Secretary MCI, Dr Reena Nayar was also unavailable.
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