Voicing concern over use of money to get medical seats, Madras High Court today ordered action by police and Income Tax authorities against a complainant who has claimed to have paid Rs 20 lakh to a person in a bid to get admission in a medical college.
"If doctors are going to be qualified only on the basis of money and not on merits, the safety of the patients, who undergo treatment under them is a million dollar question," Justice S Vaidyanathan said.
He was dismissing the anticipatory bail plea of one S K Durai who apprehended arrest over the complaint that he received Rs 20 lakh on the promise of getting medical seat.
"Since the offence alleged against the petitioner is serious in nature, requiring custodial interrogation I am not inclined to grant the relief," the Judge ruled.
Observing that giving bribe was also a serious offence, the Judge directed police to ascertain as to how the complainant was able to pay such a huge amount for a medical seat and said the I-T department should also ascertain the source of income of bribe givers in such type of cases.
"The one who receives bribe alone cannot be punished, even the person who gives bribe, under any circumstance, is also to be blamed," Justice Vaidyanathan said.
To put an end to this offence, the Income Tax Department should be set in motion, so that they will probe into the assets and liabilities of such offenders and ascertain their source of income through which they have paid the bribe, the Judge said.
He directed the court Registry to mark a copy of this order to the Commissioner of Income Tax, Nungambakkam, enabling him to initiate action in such type of offences.
The Judge also directed the police authorities to furnish the details of the offenders to the Income Tax Department to enable them to take action against the person, who is alleged to have given bribe.
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