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Part-II
The National Council for Human Resources in Health Draft Bill, 2009
No. -- of 2009

An Act
To provide for the constitution of the National Council for Human Resources in Health for prescribing

standards with a view to the proper planning and co-ordinated development of medical and allied health education throughout the country, the promotion of qualitative improvement of such education in relation to planned quantitative growth, the maintenance of a national live electronic register of medical and allied health professionals and to provide for an overarching framework for the regulation of human resources in health in the country and proper maintenance of norms and matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

BE IT ENACTED by the Parliament in the fifty-ninth year of the Republic of India as follows:

CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY

1.         Sort Title and Commencement – (1) This Act may be called the National Council for Human Resources for Health Act, 2009.

     


(2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) It shall come into force on such date as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Act.

2.            Interpretations – (1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:-

“Act” means the The National Council for Human Resources in Health Act, 2009.
“approved course” means a course recognised and approved by the Council under section 13 of this Act.
“Board” means a State Registration and Ethics Board Constituted under section 24 of this Act

"Chairperson" means the Chairperson of the Council appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Act
"Council" means the Medical Council of India constituted under this Act.
“Member” means a Member of the Council appointed in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
"Prescribed" means prescribed by regulations framed in accordance with the provisions of this Act and/or Rules made thereunder.
“Recognized Qualifications” means a qualification recognized by the Council under section 14 of this Act.
"Register" means the medical and allied health professionals register maintained by the Council or the Board under this Act.
"Regulation" means a regulation made by the Council under this Act;
"University" means any University in India established by law and having a medical or allied health faculty.
(2) Words and expressions used and not defined in this Act but defined in the Acts repealed for the creation of this Act shall have the meanings respectively assigned to them in those Acts.

CHAPTER II
 NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR HUMAN RESOURCES IN HEALTH

3.         Establishment and incorporation of Council - (1) With effect from such date as the Central Government may, by notification appoint, there shall be established for the purposes of this Act, the National Council for Human Resources in Health.
(2) The Council shall be a body corporate by the name aforesaid, having perpetual succession and a common seal, with power, subject to the provisions of this Act to acquire, hold and dispose of property, both movable and immovable, and to contract, and shall, by the said name, sue or be sued.
(3) The Council shall consist of a whole time Chairperson, and not more than four whole time members, to be appointed by the Central Government in accordance with section 5 of this Act.
(4) The head office of the Council shall be at New Delhi.

4.         Qualification for appointment of Chairperson and other members - (1) Before appointing any person as the Chairperson or member, the Central Government shall satisfy itself that the person is an Indian citizen of eminent ability, integrity, social commitment and professional standing with adequate knowledge and experience, at least of 10 years, in dealing with medical or health education, regulation of university level professional education or leadership of non-medical academic institutions imparting education in disciplines such as law, management or public administration.
Provided that a person shall be disqualified for appointment if he:

  1. has been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for an offence which, in the opinion of the Central Government, involves moral turpitude; or
  2. is an undischarged insolvent; or
  3. is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court; or
  4. has been removed or dismissed from the service of the Government or a body corporate owned or controlled by the Government; or
  5. has in the opinion of the Central Government such conflict of, financial or other, interest as is likely to affect prejudicially the discharge by him of his functions as a member; or
  6. has such other disqualifications as may be prescribed by the Central Government:

5.         Appointment of Chairperson and Members – (1) The appointment of Chairperson and Members of the Council shall be made by the Central Government through Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on the recommendation of a Selection Committee.
(2) The Selection Committee shall consist of the Cabinet Secretary, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister, Union Secretary for Health & Family Welfare and two technical experts drawn from the Search Committee.

  1. The Search Committee shall consist of the following, namely.
    1. Secretary, MoHFW, GOI as the Convenor
    2. Four other members of eminence in the field of health, education, social development and public administration as may be appointed by the Central Government.
    3. Secretary, Department of Health Research, ex-officio member
  2. The Search Committee shall recommend suitable names for consideration of the Selection Committee on a ratio of 1:3.
  3. The Selection Committee shall recommend five names, to the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet, for appointments and three other names for a reserve panel of selected members for appointments in case of any vacancies in the Council for reason other than temporary absence.

6.         Terms and conditions of office :–

  1. The Chairperson and other Members shall hold office for a term not exceeding three years, as the Central Government may notify in this behalf, from the date on which they enter upon their offices or until they attain the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier.

Provided such term may, on a recommendation made by the Selection Committee, be extended to another 3 years.

  1. The salary and allowances payable to and the other terms and conditions of service of the Chairperson and whole-time members shall be such as may be prescribed by the Central Government.
  2. The salary, allowances and other conditions of service of the Chairperson or of a member shall not be varied to his disadvantage after appointment.
  3. A vacancy caused to the office of the Chairperson or any other member shall be filled up within a period of one month from the date on which such vacancy occurs.
  4. Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), a member may—

(a)        relinquish his office by giving in writing to the Central Government notice of not less than three months; or
(b) be removed from his office in accordance with the provisions of section 7.

7.         Powers of Chairperson – The Chairperson shall have powers of general superintendence and directions in the conduct of the affairs of the Council and shall preside over the meetings of the Council.

8.         Removal of Chairperson or Member –  (1) The Central government may by order remove from office the Chairperson or any Member if the Chairperson or the Member, as the case may be,—

  1. is adjudged an insolvent; or
  2. has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the Central Government, involves moral turpitude; or
  3. is, in the opinion of the Central Government, unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or body; or
  4. has acquired such financial or other interest as is likely to affect prejudicially his functions as the Chairperson or a Member; or
  5. has so abused his position as to render his continuance in office prejudicial to the public interest.

(2) No such member shall be removed from his office under clause (d) or clause (e) of sub-section (1) unless he has been given a reasonable opportunity of being heard in the matter.

9.         Meetings of the Council –

  1. The Council shall meet at least once every three months at such time and place as may be appointed by the Council.
  2. Unless otherwise provided by regulations 50% + 1 members of the Council shall form a quorum of such meeting.
  3. The Chairperson or, if for any reason, he is unable to attend a meeting of the Council, any other member chosen by the members present from amongst themselves at the meeting shall preside at the meeting.
  4. All questions which come up before any meeting of the Authority shall be decided by a majority vote of the members present and voting, and in the event of an equality of votes, the Chairperson or in his absence, the person presiding, shall have a second or casting vote.
  5. The Council may make regulations for the transaction of business at its meetings.

10.       Vacancies etc., not to invalidate proceedings of the Council No act or proceeding of the Council shall be deemed to be invalid by reason merely of any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of the Commission.

11.       Officers, Departments, Committees and other employees of Council –

  1. There shall be established a Secretariat of the Council headed by a Secretary-General who shall:
  2. be appointed by the Council for a fixed term of 3 years;
  3. exercise such powers and discharge such functions of the Council as may be assigned to him by the Council or the Chairperson as the case may be; and
  4. report to the Council through the chairperson on actions taken by him in performance of his duties.
  5. There shall be established seven administrative departments under the Council for regulation of each category of health professionals:
  6. Department of Medicine;
  7. Department of Nursing;
  8. Department of Dentistry;
  9. Department of pharmacy;
  10. Department of Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy;
  11. Department of Public Health and Hospital Management; and
  12. Department of Allied Health Sciences
  13. Each such administrative department shall be headed by a Director so appointed by the Council.
  14. The Council may appoint officers and such other employees as it considers necessary for the efficient discharge of its functions under this Act.
  15. The salary and allowances payable to and the other conditions of service of the Secretary-General, officers and other employees of the Council shall be such as may be prescribed.

CHAPTER III
POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF THE AUTHORITY

12.       Permission to establish new institution or new course of study etc. – (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act or any other law for the time being in force:-
(a) no person shall establish a medical or health institution or
(b) no medical or health institution shall:-
(i) open a new or higher course of study or training (including a postgraduate course of study or training) which would enable a student of such course or training to qualify himself for the award of any recognised qualification; or
(ii) increase its admission capacity in any course of study or training (including a postgraduate course of study or training), except with the previous permission of the Council obtained in accordance with the procedures as may be prescribed.
Explanation 1- For the purposes of this section, "person" includes any University or a trust but does not include the Central Government.
Explanation 2- For the purposes of this section "admission capacity" in relation to any course of study or training (including postgraduate course of study or training) in a medical or health institution, means the maximum number of students that may be fixed by the Council from time to time for being admitted to such course or training.

13.       Recognition and approval of courses – (1) The Council shall recognise and approve courses, period of study, including duration of practical training to be undertaken for such courses, including graduate and post graduate programmes, and in this regard may prescribe:

  1. conditions for admission and guidelines on curriculum with flexibility for locale specific modules.
  2. minimum standards of distance and web based education for granting recognized qualifications in the field of medical and health related courses, in the country.
  3. subject of examinations for recognised qualifications, methods of assessment and evaluation, qualifications of examiners, the conditions of admissions to such examinations and the standards therein to be attained.
  4. types, numbers and standards of staff, equipment, accommodation, training and other facilities to be provided for the students undertaking an approved course.

14.       Recognition of qualifications – (1) The Council shall recognise qualifications granted by any university or medical or health and other academic or non-academic institutions in India and prescribe minimum standards of education required for granting such recognised qualifications as a medical practitioner, pharmacist, nurse, midwife, auxiliary nurse-midwife, health visitor, dentist, dental hygienist, dental mechanic, public health professional, psychiatrist, psychologist, counsellor, psychiatric social worker, etc. by such university or medical or health and other academic or non-academic institutions.
(2) The qualifications granted by any university or medical or health Institution in India which are included in the Schedule shall be recognised qualifications for the purposes of this Act.

15.       Recognition of foreign degrees/qualifications – (1) the Council shall recognise courses and qualifications including graduate and post graduate programmes offered at any university or medical or health and other academic or non-academic or training institutions, in a foreign country.
(2) The qualifications granted by any university or medical or health institutions outside India which are included in the Schedule shall be recognized qualifications for the purposes of this Act.
16.       Withdrawal of recognition – when upon a report by the visitor as appointed by the Council under section 22 of this Act or upon a report by the Committee constituted by the Council to this effect, under section 38 of this Act, the Council may withdraw recognition of a course or a qualification as may be prescribed.
17.       Maintenance of world class medical and health education – The Council shall review current status, assess needs and adopt ways to ensure a well designed world class health and medical education system in the country and promote an inter-disciplinary, multi-disciplinary and integrated approach to medical and health education.

18.       Monitor institutions and bodies constituted under the Act – The Council shall monitor and evaluate performance of the institutions granting recognised qualifications in India and other bodies constituted under the Act and take appropriate action based on such evaluation, as may be prescribed.

19.       National Register of Human Resources in Health –

  1. The Council shall cause to be maintained in the prescribed manner a national live electronic register of health professionals to be known as the “National Register of Human Resources in Health”, which shall contain the names of all persons who are for the time being enrolled by any of Board and who possess any of the recognised qualifications.
  2. It shall be the duty of the Secretary-General of the Council to keep the National Register of Human Resources in Health in accordance with the provisions of this Act and of any orders made by the Council, and from time to time to revise the register and publish it in the Gazette of India and in such other manner as may be prescribed.
  3. Such register shall be deemed to be public document within the meaning of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and may be proved by a copy published in the Gazette of India.
  4. The Council shall cause to be made such register available for public by electronic or such other publication as may be prescribed.
  5. The Secretary-General of the Council, may, on receipt of the report of registration of a person by a Board or on application made in the prescribed manner by any such person, enter his name in the National Register of Human Resources in Health

Provided that the Registrar is satisfied that the person concerned possesses a recognised qualification.

20.       Professional conducts – (1) The Council may prescribe standards of professional conduct, etiquette and code of professional ethics to be observed by the practitioners.
(2) Regulations made by the Council under sub-section (1) may specify which violations thereof shall constitute infamous conduct in any professional respect, that is to say, professional misconduct, and such provisions shall have effect notwithstanding anything contained in any law for the time being in force
21.       Power to require information as to courses of study and examinations – Every University or medical institution in India which grants a recognised qualification shall furnish such information as the Council may, from time to time, require as to the courses of study and examinations to be undergone in order to obtain such qualification, as to the ages at which such courses of study and examinations are required to be undergone and such qualification is conferred and generally as to the requisites for obtaining such qualification.
22.       Visit and inspection of examinations – (1) The Council may appoint such number of visitors and or inspectors as it may deem requisite to inspect any university, institution, college, hospital or other institution where medical or health education is given, or to attend any examination held by any University or medical or health institution for the propose of granting recognition of qualifications granted by the University or medical or health institution.
(2) The Visitors and or inspectors, as the case may be, shall not interfere with the conduct of any training or examination, but shall report to the Council on the adequacy of the standards of education including staff, equipment, accommodation, training facilities prescribed for giving medical or health education or on the sufficiency of every examination which they attend.
(3) The report of a visitor shall be treated as confidential unless in any particular case the Council otherwise directs.
Provided that if the Central Government requires a copy of the report of a visitor, the Council shall furnish the same.

CHAPTER IV
NATIONAL LEVEL EXAMINATION

23.       National level exit examination – (1) The Council shall conduct a national level exit examination for broad and super speciality post graduate in medical and/or health education as a standardised examination that may be taken by anyone with a postgraduate qualification recognised by the Council.
Provided all trainees in medical colleges or health professional training institutions, as well as professionals who have received medical/health related training from non academic institution recognised by the Council may appear for post graduate programmes at the University level.
(2) The examination shall also be open for professionals who have received requisite medical/health related training from an academic or non academic institution recognised by the Council but have not been able to pass a university level examination, as well as for individuals holding a foreign post graduate degree in medicine or health, where such a degree has been obtained from an institution not recognised by the Council.
(3) The national exit exam will be equivalent to an MD/MS awarded by any recognised university in the country.
(4) The Council may conduct a national standardisation examination for undergraduate programmes and mandatory screening test for candidates having successfully completed undergraduate program from a foreign institution that is not recognised by the Council.
(5)Notwithstanding anything contained in this chapter all central and state universities shall continue to conduct their own examinations and award degrees thereon.
(6) The National Board of Examinations (NBE) shall be abolished with the coming into force of this Act
(7) The national exit examinations shall be conducted online through the internet, and will mostly follow a multiple choice format including the clinical aspect of medical practice as may be prescribed.
(8) Individuals possessing the requisite criteria, as prescribed by the Council, for appearing for the national exit exam will be classified as ‘board eligible’, upon passing the exam, an individual will be classified as ‘board certified’.
(9) In order to be ‘board certified’ one must qualify within 3 years of being ‘board eligible’.
(10) All ‘board eligible’ candidates may practice in non-academic institutions. To be appointed in an academic institution, an individual will need to either possess a post graduate degree from a recognised university or be ‘board certified’.


CHAPTER V
THE STATE REGISTRATIONS AND ETHICS BOARD

24.       The State Registrations and Ethics Board – There may be constituted a Registration and Ethics Board for each administrative department in every State to be known as the ‘(name of the State) Registration and Ethics Board (name of the administrative department)’, which shall replace the existing State Councils constituted by or under the authority of State Legislature (listed in the schedule-I to this Act).

25.       State Register of Professionals – (1) Such Board shall maintain, in the manner prescribed, a state live electronic register of professionals, of the respective Department to be known as ‘State Register of (name of the Department).
(2) Such register shall be linked to the National Register of Human Resources in Health maintained by the Council.
(3) The registers so far being maintained by the existing State Councils shall remain transferred to this Board from the day of its constitution.
(4) Subject to the other provisions contained in this Act, the recognised qualifications included in the Schedules shall be sufficient qualification for enrolment on any register.
(5) Subject to the conditions and restrictions laid down in this Act, regarding practice by persons possessing certain recognised qualifications, no person except for whose name is for the time being borne on any register maintained under this Act shall be entitled according to his qualifications to practice as such practitioner in any part of India. and to recover in due course of law in respect of such practice any expenses, charges in respect of medicaments or other appliances, or any fees to which he may be entitled.
(6) Such register shall be deemed to be public document within the meaning of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 and may be proved by a copy published in the Gazette of India.
(7) The Board shall make such register available for public by electronic or such other publication as may be prescribed.

26.       Professional ethics – such Board shall take cognizance of and inquire into any professional misconduct and take appropriate disciplinary action against such misconducts as may be prescribed.

27.      Appeal to the Council – Any person aggrieved by an order made by the Board under section 25 and section 26 above may prefer an appeal against such order to the Council within a period of thirty days from the date of the order in such form and manner as may be prescribed.

28.       Composition of the Board – (1) Each Board shall comprise of :

    1. A President,
    2. A Vice-President
    3. Not less than ten, and not more than such number of members, as may be prescribed, and three of whom shall be women.
    4. Nominee of the State Government.

(2) The President, Vice-President and the Members, except for the one to be nominated by the State Government, shall be elected from amongst the registered members of the Department in that state.

29.       Term of Office and casual vacancies – (1) Subject to the provisions of this section, an elected or nominated member shall hold office for a term of three years from the date of his election or nomination or until his successor has been duly elected or nominated, whichever is longer:
Provided that the nominated member shall hold office during the pleasure of the authority nominating him.
(2) An elected or nominated member may at any time resign his membership by writing under his hand addressed to the President, and the seat of such member shall thereupon become vacant.
(3) An elected or nominated member shall be deemed to have vacated his seat—
(a) if he is absent without excuse, sufficient in the opinion of the Board, from three consecutive ordinary meetings of the Board or
(b) in the case of a member whose name is required to be included in any State Register, if his name is removed from the register, or
 (4) A casual vacancy in the  Board shall be filled by fresh election or nomination, as the case may be, and the person elected or nominated to fill the vacancy shall hold office only for the remainder of the term for which the member whose place he takes was elected or nominated.
(5) Member of the Board shall be eligible for re-election or re-nomination.
(6) No act done by the Board shall be called in question on the ground merely of the existence of any vacancy in, or defect in the constitution of, the Board.

30.       Staff, remuneration and allowances – (1) The Board may, with the previous sanction of the Council -
(a) appoint a Registrar, who shall also act as Secretary and if so decided by the Board also as its Treasurer;
(b) appoint such other officers and servants as may be required to enable the Board to carry out its functions under this Act;
(c) require and take from the Registrar or from any other officer or servant such security for the due performance of his duties as the Board considers necessary; 
(d) fix the salaries and allowances and other conditions of service of the Registrar and other officers and servants of the Board;
(e) Fix the rate of allowances payable to members of the Board.

31.       Executive Committee – (1) The Board shall constitute from among its members an Executive Committee consisting of the President and Vice-President ex officio and such number of other members elected by the Board as may be prescribed.
(2) The President and Vice-President of the Board shall be Chairman and Vice-Chairman, respectively, of the Executive Committee.
(3) A member of the Executive Committee shall hold office as such until the expiry of his term of office as member of the Board, but subject to his being a member of the Board, he shall be eligible for re-election only for a second term.
(4) The Executive Committee shall exercise and discharge such powers and duties as may be prescribed.

32.       Reports and information to the State Government – (1) The Board shall furnish such reports, copies of its minutes and of the minutes of the Executive Committee, and abstracts of its accounts to the State Government as it may from time to time require and shall forward copies of all materials so furnished to the State Government to the Council.
(2) The State Government may publish in such manner as it thinks fit any report, copy or abstract furnished to it under this section.

CHAPTER VI
AUDIT AND ACCOUNTS

33.       Grants by Central Government — The Central Government may, after due appropriation made by Parliament by law in this behalf, make to the Council grants of such sums of money as are required to pay salaries and allowances payable to the Chairperson and the members and the administrative expenses including the salaries, allowances and pension payable to or in respect of officers and other employees of the Authority.

34.       Fund — (1) There shall be constituted a fund to be called the National Council for Human Resources in Health General Fund and there shall be credited thereto-
                        (a) all grants, fees and charges received by the Council under this Act, and
(b) all sums received by the Council from such other sources as may be decided upon by the Central Government.
            (2) The Fund shall be applied for meeting—
(a) the salaries and allowances payable to the Chairperson and members and the administrative expenses including the salaries, allowances and pension payable to or in respect of officers and other employees of the Council; and
                        (b) the expenses on objects and for purposes authorised by this Act.

35.       Accounts and audit —(1) The Council shall maintain proper accounts and other relevant records and prepare an annual statement of accounts in such form as may be prescribed by the Central Government in consultation with the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
(2) The accounts of the Council shall be audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India at such intervals as may be specified by him and any expenditure incurred in connection with such auditor shall be payable by the Council to the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India.
(3) The Comptroller and Auditor-General of India and any other persons appointed by him in connection with the audit of the accounts of the Council shall have the same rights and privileges and authority in connection with such audit as the Comptroller and Auditor General generally, has in connection with the audit of the Government accounts and, in particular, shall have the right to demand the production of books, accounts, connected vouchers and other documents and papers and to inspect any of the offices of the Council.
(4) The accounts of the Council as certified by the Comptroller and Auditor-General of India or any other person appointed by him in this behalf together with the audit report thereon shall be forwarded annually to the Central Government and that Government shall cause the same to be laid before each House of Parliament.
(5) A copy of the accounts of the Council as so certified together with the audit report thereon shall be forwarded simultaneously to the Council.

36.       Furnishing of returns, reports, minutes etc. to the Central Government.(1) The Council shall furnish to the Central Government at such time and in such form and manner as may be prescribed or as the Central Government may direct, such returns, copies of its minutes, statement, other information and such particulars as the Central Government from time to time may require.
(2) The Council shall prepare once every year in such form and at such time as may be prescribed, an annual report giving a summary of its activities during the previous year and copies of the report shall be forwarded to the Central Government.
(3) A copy of the report received under sub-section (2) shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is received, before each House of Parliament.

CHAPTER VII
Miscellaneous

37.       Assessment and Accreditation of Medical and Health Institutions – (1) The Council may empanel competent and independent body(s) to perform the function of assessment and accreditation as it may prescribe.
(2) The council shall review, every two years, the functioning of these bodies and evaluate whether such functions are being performed in conformity with the professional, fairness and other standards set by the Council.
(3) The Council may, after such review and evaluation, issue directives to the empanelled bodies as to their performance and may, if so required, cancel their empanelment.
(4) Any empanelment, assessment, accreditation, review and evaluation made under this section shall be considered public document and so caused to be made available by the Council for public by electronic or such other publication as may be prescribed.

38.       Standing and Adhoc Committees – the Council may constitute committees, which may be standing or adhoc in nature, to fulfil specific functions as may be prescribed.

39.       State/Regional Administrative Offices – There may be established State or Regional Level Administrative Offices of the Council, which shall act merely as an administrative office of the Council to perform functions of information, coordination and liaison in such State or the Region as the case may be.

40.       Appeal – (1) Any person aggrieved by an order made by the Council in exercise of its powers conferred under the Act may prefer an appeal against such order only to a High Court within a period of ninety days from the date of such order.
(2) No other court shall entertain any suit, application or other proceeding in respect of any order made under this Act and no such order shall be called in question otherwise than by way of an appeal under this Act.

41.       Protection of action taken in good faith – No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act.

42.       Members, etc, to be public servants.—The Chairperson, Members and other Officers and employees of the Council shall be deemed to be public servants within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).

43.       Levy of fees – the Council may levy fees and other charges at such rates and in respect of such services as may be prescribed;

44.       Transparency – the Council shall ensure transparency while exercising its powers and discharging its functions.

45.       Power to make rules – (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules to carry out the purpose of this Act.
(2) Every rule made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be, so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.

46.       Power to make regulations – (1) The Council may, with previous sanction of the Central Government, except for those related to prescribing of curriculum for various courses and/or programmes, make regulations consistent with this Act and the rules made thereunder.
(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such regulations may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:
a) the management of the property of the Council and the maintenance and audit of its accounts;
(b) the summoning and holding of meetings of the Council, the times and places where such meetings are to be held, the conduct of business thereat and the number of members necessary to constitute a quorum;
(c) the resignation of members of the Council;
(d) the powers and duties of the Chairperson and the Members;
(e) the mode of appointment of the Committees, the summoning and holding of meetings and the conduct of business of such Committees;
(f) the tenure office, and the powers and duties of the Secretary-General and other officers and servants of the Council;
 (g) the particulars to be stated, and the proof of qualifications to be given in applications for registration under this Act;
(h) the fees to be paid on registration, applications and appeals under this Act;
(i) the appointment, powers, duties and procedure of inspectors and visitors;
(j) the courses and period of study and of practical training to be undertaken, the subjects of examination and the standards of proficiency therein to be obtained, in Universities or medical institutions for grant of recognized medical qualifications;
(k) the standards of staff, equipment, accommodation, training and other facilities for medical education;
(l) the conduct of professional examination; qualifications of examiners and the conditions of admissions to such examinations;
(m) the standards of professional conduct and etiquette and code of ethics to be observed by medical practitioners; and
(n) the modalities for conducting national exit examination and screening tests under the Act and for issuing eligibility certificate provided thereunder.
(o) any other matter for which under this Act provision may be made by regulations.

47.       Power of Central Government to give directions – (1) In the discharge of its functions under this Act, the Council shall be guided by such directions on questions of policy relating to national purposes as may be given to it by the Central Government.
(2) If any dispute arises between the Central Government and the Council as to whether a question is or is not a question of policy relating to national purposes, the decision of the Central Government shall be final.

48.       Penalty for falsely claiming to be registered – If any person whose name is not for the time being entered in a register falsely represents that it is so entered, or uses in connection with his name or title any words or letters reasonably calculated to suggest that his name is so entered, he shall be punishable on first conviction with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees, and on any subsequent conviction with imprisonment which my extend to six months or with fine not exceeding fifty thousand rupees or with both.

49.       Penalty for contravention of directions of Council — If a person violates directions or orders of the Council, such person shall be punishable with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees and in case of second or subsequent offence with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees and in the case of continuing contravention with additional fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees for every day during which the default continues.

50        Offences by companies.—(1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who at the time the offence was committed was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment provided in this Act if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he has exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of, or is attributable to, any neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
            Explanation.—For the purposes of this section,—
            (a) ‘company’ means any body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals; and
            (b) ‘director’, in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.

51.       Congnizance of offences.—(1) No court shall take cognizance of any offence punishable under this Act or the rules or regulations made thereunder, save on a complaint made by the Council.
(2) No court inferior to that of a Chief Metropolitan Magistrate or a Chief Judicial Magistrate of first class shall try any offence punishable under this Act.

52.       Power to remove difficulties.—(1) If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Central Government may, by order, published in the Official Gazette, make such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act as may appear to be necessary for removing the difficulty:
Provided that no order shall be made under this section after the expiry of two years from the date of commencement of this Act.
(2) Every order made under this section shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament.

53.       External review – three shall be conducted a review, every 5 years, of the functioning of this Council by an independent committee appointed by the Government of India.

54.       Repeal and Savings – (1) The Indian Medical Council Act, 1956; The Pharmacy Act, 1948; The Dentists Act, 1948; The Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947; The Rehabilitation Council of India Act in 1992 is hereby repealed.
(2) Notwithstanding such repeal, anything done or any action taken under the provisions of the aforesaid Act, shall, in so far as such thing or action is not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, be deemed to have been done or taken under the provisions of this Act as if the said provisions were in force when such thing was done or such action was taken and shall continue in force accordingly until superseded by anything done or any action taken under this Act.

(3) All assets, rights, charges, claims and authorities vested in and any claims or liabilities pending against the repealed bodies constituted under the above Acts shall, from the date of coming into force of this Act, vest in the Council.


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