Latest news with #VaidyaJayantYeshwantDeopujari
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Delhi High Court sets aside appointment of NCISM chairperson
The Delhi High Court Friday set aside the appointment of Vaidya Jayant Yeshwant Deopujari as the chairperson of National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM), holding that he does not fulfil the 'requisite qualification' as is required under the provisions of the NCISM Act, 2020. The NCISM lays down policies for maintaining the quality and standards in education of the Indian System of Medicine and makes regulations to that effect. It also lays down policies for regulating medical institutions, medical researches and medical professionals. Two petitions were filed before the Delhi HC, challenging the appointment of Deopujari. It was highlighted that as per the statutory requirement, a person possessing a postgraduate degree in any discipline of Indian System of Medicine from a recognised university and having experience of not less than 20 years in any field of Indian System of Medicine, out of which at least 10 years shall be as a leader in the area of healthcare delivery, growth and development of Indian System Medicine or its education, shall be eligible to be appointed as chairperson of the commission. According to the petitioners, Deopujari neither possessed a post-graduate degree nor had 10 years experience as a leader in the area of healthcare delivery, growth and development of Indian System of Medicine or its education, as required. Defending the appointment, the Union government had told the bench of Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela that Deopujari was the head of R&D and F&D departments of Shivayu Ayurved Limited, Nagpur, for more than 11 years, thus making him a leader with over 10 years as required. It was also stated that he has a bachelor's degree in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery and a PhD in 'Kayachikitsa' from University of Pune, which is a postgraduate degree obtained after graduation, and is in fact a higher degree than a postgraduate degree. It was also highlighted that the appointment was made upon recommendations of a search committee, chaired by a cabinet secretary. The bench, in its verdict, noted that the Act defines 'leader' as the 'head of a department' or the 'head of an organization' and that it is 'indisputable' that he does not have a master's degree in any discipline of Indian System of Medicine. Drawing a distinction between post graduate degree and a PhD as per the Act, the court recorded, '…we are of the opinion that the Post-Graduate Degree in this provision shall mean a degree awarded after completion of certain period/course of study undertaken by a person who already has a graduation degree for the reason that Ph D is not an educational qualification; rather it is a research qualification…We are of the considered opinion that every degree awarded by a university after graduation cannot be termed to be a 'post-graduation qualification' for the reason that in the domain of higher education in our country 'Post-Graduate Degree' has acquired a special meaning and significance and post-graduate degree means a Master's Degree like MA, MSc, MD, LLM or MEd.' The court went on to hold that Deopujari 'lacks the requisite qualification for being appointed to the office in question' in the absence of a masters degree. The court also observed that the experience as a leader too did not hold in Deopujari's case. 'The NCISM Act, 2020 has been framed to provide for a medical education system and to improve access to quality and affordable medical education and to ensure availability of adequate and high-quality medical professionals of Indian System of Medicine in all parts of the country. Accordingly, in our opinion, 'Head of a Department' or 'Head of an Organization' has to be necessarily associated with medical education in Indian System of Medicine…we find ourselves unable to agree with the submission that experience of working in a drug manufacturing company will qualify (Deopujari) to hold the requisite experience of a 'Leader'.' Setting aside the appointment, the court directed the Centre that the process of selection and appointment of the chairperson of the commission shall be completed with expedition and while conducting the process of selection, observations made in the verdict be taken into account.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
3 days ago
- Health
- Business Standard
Delhi High Court quashes NCISMC chief's appointment due to ineligibility
The Delhi High Court on Friday set aside the appointment of Vaidya Jayant Yeshwant Deopujari as the chairperson of the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISMC), holding him ineligible for office on the grounds that, despite having a Ph.D, he had not completed a Master's degree programme. A bench comprising Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela allowed two petitions challenging Deopujari's appointment. 'The writ petitions are allowed, and a writ of quo warranto quashing and setting aside the appointment of respondent 5 (Deopujari) as Chairperson of the Commission is issued,' the bench held. The court passed the order in response to petitions filed by Ved Prakash Tyagi, former president of the erstwhile Central Council for Indian Medicine, and Dr Raghunandan Sharma. The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions had issued a circular on June 9, 2021, appointing Deopujari as the commission's chairperson. The petitioners argued that Deopujari could not be appointed as he did not meet the eligibility criteria under the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020 (NCISM Act). The Act stipulates that the chairperson must possess a postgraduate degree in medical education and have 20 years of experience in the medical field. The court found that Deopujari did not fulfil the required academic criteria, stating that the Ph.D awarded to him by Pune University did not presuppose acquisition of a lower qualification, i.e., a Master's degree in Ayurveda. It noted that Deopujari was admitted to the Ph.D programme immediately after obtaining his graduation degree in Ayurveda (BAMS), without undergoing a Master's degree course. What is the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine? The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine is a statutory regulatory body established under the NCISM Act, 2020. It is responsible for framing policies and ensuring quality standards in institutions offering education in the Indian system of medicine. The Commission replaced the Central Council of Indian Medicine.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Delhi HC sets aside appointment of NCISMC chairperson
The Delhi High Court on Friday (June 6, 2025) quashed the appointment of Vaidya Jayant Yeshwant Deopujari as Chairperson of the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine, holding that he does not meet the qualification prescribed for appointment to the office. The court passed the order on two petitions filed by Ved Prakash Tyagi, former president of the erstwhile Central Council for Indian Medicine, and Dr. Raghunandan Sharma challenging the appointment of Mr. Deopujari as the chairperson of the commission (NCISMC). The Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances, and Pensions had issued a circular on June 9, 2021, appointing Mr. Deopujari as the commission's chairperson. The petitioners have alleged that Mr. Deopujari could not be appointed as the chairperson of the commission as he does not hold a postgraduate degree, mandated under the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020 (NCISM Act). The court held that Mr. Deopujari possessed a PhD degree, whereas the requisite degree was an MD or any other equivalent master's degree in any discipline of the Indian System of Medicine. The PhD degree that was awarded to him by Pune University did not presuppose acquisition of a lower qualification (Master's Degree in Ayurveda), it said. Ineligible person 'We have no hesitation to hold that the expression 'Post-Graduate Degree' occurring in Section 4(2) of the NCISM Act, 2020, in the context it has been used, would mean a Master's Degree (MD) in any discipline of Indian System of Medicine, which the respondent does not possess, and, therefore, he lacks the requisite qualification for being appointed to the office in question,' the court said. Mr. Tyagi's plea said the commission was a governing body for all matters relating to education and regulation of Indian medicine in the country. 'Thus, the interests of a large number of people/students/Indian medicine practitioners shall be adversely and severely affected if an ineligible person is allowed to continue as the chairperson of such a critical statutory body,' he added. The court noted that the counsel representing the Commission has stated in the court that the process of selection and appointment of the Chairperson of the Commission has commenced. 'Accordingly, we direct that the said process shall be completed with expedition, and while conducting the process of selection, the observations made hereinabove in this judgment shall be taken into account,' the court added.
