The Bombay High Court on Thursday asked the state government to take steps to conduct the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) election at the earliest to stop the ongoing row over the appointment of the registrar of the Maharashtra Council of Indian Medicine, who is also an ayurvedic practitioner, as the new registrar of the MMC.

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A division bench of justice SC Dharmadhikari and justice Dr Shalini Phansalkar Joshi directed the government to file its reply by July 22, and give details about steps it is taking to conduct the election to appoint the MMC members. The bench observed: "It's been over a month that there is no council. Important matters like notifying medical courses in institutions are being delayed."

The MMC is a quasi-judicial body that serves as an ethical watchdog and looks into cases of medical negligence. Dr Dilip Wange, an associate professor at RA Podar Ayurveda College and the registrar of the state's ayurveda council, has been appointed as the new registrar of the MMC.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA), the umbrella body of allopathy medicine practitioners, has approached the Bombay High Court against the appointment. The petition prays for the quashing of the appointment order of Dr Wange.

Giving additional charge to him is contrary to rules. Moreover, a person who has a conflict of interest with the method and principles of the functioning of the council would vitiate its entire functioning. The plea prays that till its final disposal, the charge given to Dr Wange be relinquished.

The petition also states that the action of not conducting the elections as required under law is violative of the statutory rights of the members of the IMA. Further, it says that the government action is arbitrary, solely taken with a view to prohibit the smooth functioning of the MMC.