Supreme Court to hear plea contending MCI oversight by Lodha committee

Justice Lodha committee was set up to oversee the functioning of the Medical Council of India for at least a year

The Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear a plea contending that the top court-appointed oversight committee, headed by former Chief Justice RM Lodha, was going beyond its mandate of monitoring the work of the Medical Council of India (MCI).

The petition was filed by Vyapam whistleblower Anand Rai, who has alleged that the committee overshot MCI and the Health Ministry's disapproval of hundreds of applications made by medical colleges without conducting any "fresh" inspection or assessment.

Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court led by Justice Anil R Dave, in a judgement in May 2016, had set up a three-member committee, headed by Justice Lodha, to oversee the functioning of the Medical Council of India (MCI) for at least a year.