Raipur: Controversy Over DCI Nomination

The former Dental Council of India (DCI) Chairman, Dr. Dibyendu Mazumder, has sparked yet another controversy as the Government of Chhattisgarh has now nominated him as their nominated member to the constitution of the DCI. The dentist, Dr. Mazumder, originally belongs to West Bengal, and held all his positions earlier from WB and has transferred his registration to Chhattisgarh.

Holding the fact that Dr. Mazumdar has been named in cases registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation, the other members of the council objected to his nomination.

Displeased with the nomination of a doctor from West Bengal in Chhattisgarh, the member also wrote to Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Health Minister, and Bhupesh Baghel, Chief Minister, seeking cancellation of the nomination in the interest of dentists of Chhattisgarh. The members stressed on the fact that the full-time dentist and resident of Kolkata got his registration transferred to Chhattisgarh and was finally nominated to the state DCI.

Before the transfer of registration from Kolkata to Chhattisgarh on November 29, Dr. Mazumdar was embroiled in a row over his retirement age. had earlier reported that holding the fact that Dr. Dibyendu Mazumdar, president of Dental Council of India (DCI), had already crossed the retirement age of 65 years on July 9, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) had written to the Council to restrict him from accessing the official documents, as he ceased to be a faculty of University and consequently to be a Member of DCI under the relevant DCI Regulation.

Also Read: Union Health Ministry directs removal of Dental Council of India President Dr. Dibyendu Mazumdar

With a couple of months past the controversy, a new row fumed over Dr. Mazumdar being nominated to the DCI, Chhattisgarh. However, T S Singhdeo, Chhattisgarh Health Minister, strongly supported his nomination stating that they go by his merits and potential for DCI than the CBI cases which are potentially motivated.

"Dr. Muzumdar has been president of DCI during UPA regime. I strongly defend his nomination," Singhdeo told TOI.

He further clarified on the shifting of practice or residence from one state to another as pointed out by one of the members, quoting the Dentist Act.

Singhdeo told TOI, "To the best of knowledge, there is no such reservation or limitation for nominating as state representative in DCI election."