THE INDIAN MEDICAL COUNCIL (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2013

The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2013 proposes to amend the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 to provide for the constitution of a new Medical Council of India and to regulate medical education and practice in India. The bill seeks to make the composition of the council more compact and representative, and empowers the Central Government to give directions on matters of policy to the Council. The bill also proposes to remove the anomaly where States having larger number of medical colleges were having fewer seats in the Council as compared to States having fewer colleges affiliated to several universities. The bill provides for the reconstitution of the Medical Council of India within a period of one hundred and eighty days, and empowers the Central Government to make rules for carrying out the provisions of the Act on matters relating to election of the Council, other functions of the Council, conditions and payment of fees for filing of an appeal, and any other matter. The bill also provides for the removal from office of the President, Vice-President or any member of the Council who has been adjudged as an insolvent, or has become physically or mentally incapable of acting as such President, Vice-President or other member.