Earlier, doctors would continue to practise even after being held guilty by a lower court.
Justice S C Dharamadhikari recently issued an order directing the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) to suspend the licences of such doctors until their appeal is heard and decided by appellate courts and they are absolved of the charges.
"The high court in its order has said if a doctor is convicted by a lower court for offences under the PCPNDT Act, then the medical council should suspend his license immediately and not wait to conduct an independent inquiry against the doctor," advocate Amit Karkhanis, appearing for the MMC, said.
The order was passed while hearing a petition filed by a Solapur-based doctor, Pradipchandra Gandhi, challenging his suspension by the Council. Gandhi had claimed that a sessions court had stayed his conviction awarded by a magistrate's court and hence his suspension is not valid.
Justice Dharmadhikari, however, held that under Section 23 (2) of the PCPNDT Act, the name of the medical practitioner accused under the Act has to be reported to the concerned state medical council for initiating necessary action, which includes suspension of registration. This is applicable till the case is disposed of by the appellant court. (More)
