The recent expose pointing towards private collegesallegedly flouting rules and collecting capitation fee has suddenly shifted thefocus on the Medical Council of India and its role in regulating medical colleges,and in the process, bringing unnecessary disrepute to the noble profession andthe capability of Indian doctors.

Without commenting on the merits of the caseinvolving the two Tamil Nadu colleges, one thing that can safely be assumedabout the recent turn of events is that the malaise is in our academic system -which needs an overhaul – and not the approach of individuals.

In fact, the same can be said about other bodiesregulating private institutions of higher education in other streams. The BarCouncil of India, for instance, which oversees the functioning of private law colleges,has also been under the scanner of courts for its inability to disciplineprivate law colleges which have failed to maintain high standards ofeducation.

So, is the case of other questions related to MCIand its working? Is it possible for a statutory body like MCI to be hijacked byits chief in the way it is being made out to be? Is the system so weak thatother stakeholders like the Ministry of health and the HRD ministry can betaken for a ride to such an extent that all rules can be manipulated to suitindividuals?

Waiting for your comments folks…