Hindustan Times: Hoshiarpur: Sunday, May 12, 2013.
The Punjab Medical Council (PMC) elections, which
were held in July 2011, have been declared void. Admitting in the Punjab and Haryana high court
that the said election was 'vitiated due to procedural lapses', the government
declared it annulled. One of the contestants, Dr Parminder Singh
Brar of Khanna, had challenged the election when
his pleas were not entertained either by the PMC or by the government.
Dr Brar, who had lost the election mere 30 votes, had filed a writ (no 17352/2011)
in the high court alleging bogus voting and other
malpractices. To prove his point, he produced evidence obtained from the
medical council under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. On December 2, 2011, the court directed the Punjab government to take decision on his representation
within eight weeks, but when the government did not act, Dr Brar filed a
contempt petition which prompted the government to appoint National Rural
Health Mission managing director Raj Kamal Chodhary, as inquiry officer to
probe the allegations.
The inquiry officer submitted his report on May 6, in which he concluded that the council election was marred by
malpractices and was liable to be declared void.
Principal secretary, medical education and
research, appeared in the court personally on May 8 and submitted that accepting
the report of the inquiry officer, the election of PMC, conducted in 2011, was declared void. She also assured the court that steps shall be taken
immediately for conduct of fresh election.
Dr Brar welcomed the verdict stating that it was
the victory of truth.
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