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Fake council was allowed to run racket for decade

CHANDIGARH: It was in 2007 that the racket run by the “Paramedical Council (Punjab)” was first detected by the state’s Department of Medical Education and Research.

Fake council was allowed to run racket for decade

An official during a raid at the office of ‘Paramedical Council (Punjab)’ in Mohali recently. Tribune file photo



Vishav Bharti

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 24

It was in 2007 that the racket run by the “Paramedical Council (Punjab)” was first detected by the state’s Department of Medical Education and Research. However, the council was allowed to function over the past decade.

During a raid last week, an inquiry panel constituted by the department found that the fake council, based in Phase 7, Mohali, had given “affiliation” to 70 other institutes and issued bogus certificates to thousands of people for Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) and other courses.

A decade ago, Civil Surgeons hiring employees for paramedical posts had approached the department, enquiring about the recognition status of the diplomas and degrees issued by the “council”, which was established in 2002.

A team led by the then Joint Director, Medical Education, had raided the council premises and seized their record. A police complaint was also filed, following which the then DGP had issued directions to all SSPs to ensure that all “institutes” affiliated with the “council” were shut down.

When contacted, former Joint Director Dr Parampal Singh Coonar, who had conducted an investigation in 2007, said, “The ‘council’ owner had gone to the Punjab and Haryana High Court against the department. The court had dismissed his petition and imposed costs of Rs 10,000 on him.”

He said the HC had given the go-ahead to the government to take action against the “council” under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

“The government should have sealed the ‘council’ office and got an FIR registered against the owner. Had the department taken timely action, many people would have been saved from getting duped,” Dr Coonar added.

On August 12, 2015, the then Director, Medical Education, Dr Manjit Kaur Mohi had issued a public notice, stating, “The Paramedical Council (Punjab) is not recognised by the government of Punjab.” It also said that the state had not constituted any such council till date, adding that the certificates issued by the “council” were not valid for government jobs. However, no follow-up action was initiated.

Dr Sujata, Director, Medical Education and Research, didn’t take calls despite repeated attempts.

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