Punjab Medical Education and Research minister Anil Joshi today said Dr G S Grewal's tenure as the president of the Punjab Medical Council ended in December 2014 and a probe has been ordered on how he over stayed his tenure for more than a year.
Dr Grewal stood removed as PMC President, his term had ended on December 21, 2014 and he had over-lived his term, he told reporters on the sidelines of the concluding function of the two-day 68th state-level medical conference of Punjab IMA, "PIMACON-2015", organised by Organising Chairman cum Punjab IMA President Dr SPS Sooch here.
The minister was replying to questions about Grewal's reported claim that his term would expire on December 21 this year, and that the Minister was indulging in vendetta against him as he had refused to follow his order for protecting some corrupt doctors.
Stressing about probity in his public life, Joshi said it was neither any question of vendetta nor shielding any doctor.
"I stand for honesty and merit, and brook no pressure nor buckle under any," he shot back when reminded that Dr Grewal was brother of Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Adviser to Chief Minister.
He claimed that CM 'Badal Sahib' never pressurised anybody for something wrong.
Asked how he came to know that Dr Grewal had over-stayed his term for over a year, Joshi said he had asked Secretary Medical Education to enquire into it so that proper action could be initiated against those who had kept him in dark.
When asked if he will set aside decisions taken by Grewal during his overstay as President, Joshi said he had sought a detailed report from the department about it.
"If any irregularity was found to have been committed during the period, adequate action will follow," he said.
Earlier, in his valedictory address, Joshi referred to the issue indirectly, without naming Grewal. He said government was answerable for the doings of PMC and regretted that after his action against Grewal, he had been made target on social media and abuses were being hurled on him in social sites.
"I have overnight become bad because I did not stand with the wrong," he quipped.
Claiming that he had always fought against corrupt system, Joshi dared his detractors to get the probe done by any agency against him if anyone had any doubt about his credentials.
He claimed that he did not have any personal grudge or enmity with anyone and assured doctors that he will support them in case any injustice was done to them.
"If anyone continued to be the President of PMC without being its member, then chaotic situation will prevail and the government will be put in dock both by media and public," he said amid cheers from doctors.
He urged doctors to create some kind of Poor Patients Fund in IMA for providing concessional treatment to poor patients.
He distributed prizes to outstanding doctors and IMA branches.
Punjab IMA President Dr SPS Sooch feted Joshi with a trophy.
