After court rap, doctor’s group unsure about PIL on Ketan Desai

NEW DELHI - An NRI-led doctors’ group that filed a petition against tainted former chief of the Medical Council of India Ketan Desai said Tuesday after a rap from the Gujarat High Court it is unsure about the case.

The Gujarat High Court is to take up Wednesday a public interest litigation against Desai filed by the president of People for Better Treatment (PBT).

“The judge raised questions on my dual citizenship and then the court said that if it finds the petition frivolous, it may impose penalty in dollars,” PBT president Kunal Saha told IANS on phone from Ohio, US.

Saha was represented by his counsel in the Gujarat High Court, which heard the PIL for the first time Dec 20.

The PIL was filed by the PBT against the Ketan Desai’s election to the Gujarat University Senate against a seat reserved for a medical graduate, even though his degree has been suspended by the MCI.

Desai is facing corruption charges, following which he was removed from the post of the MCI president.

The Gujarat High Court Monday told Saha to be ready to pay the cost in dollars if his petition is found frivolous and dismissed by the court.

The court came down heavily on Saha’s counsel and sought to know the “intent and interest” in filing the PIL.

The court wanted to know from his counsel as to what made Saha file a petition in public interest here. “Did he not find anything worth public interest over there,” asked the court.

Saha added that his group has also contacted the MCI for stopping Desai’s election to the Gujarat University Senate.

“Although the MCI has sent a categorical letter to the Gujarat University vice chancellor, they have not taken any steps,” Saha said.

“I will move the apex court if my petition is dismissed,” Saha added.

Saha said there is a surprise among the doctors abroad on the lack of action against Desai, who was arrested by the CBI for taking Rs.2 crore as bribe to accord recognition on a Punjab-based medical college even though it did not fulfil the criteria.

“Dr. Desai has brought disgrace to the entire medical community and especially to all doctors of Indian origin,” Saha added.