5,000 resident doctors want right to vote from workplaces

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has filed a writ petition on Friday, before the Bombay high court to grant them permission to cast their votes at the district of the respective workplaces for the Maharshtra Medical Council (MMC) elections. Currently, doctors posted in rural areas or posted away from their hometown are not able to exercise their vote. Advisor of MARD, Dr Sagar Mundada, filed the writ petition. The MMC elections will be held on December 18 and doctors from all across Maharashtra will cast their vote. Physical presence of voter is mandatory. Hence, district-wise electoral list of voters has been prepared. Every doctor has been included in the list of his hometown. Currently, almost 5,000 resident doctors who are members of MMC are posted at places outside their hometown.

Dr Mundada said that the government has always sited technical problems. “As a result, 5,000 residents doctors lose their basic right to vote. The reason why this petition was filed yesterday in the HC.”

The MMC is a statutory body, established by the Maharashtra Medical Council Act 1965.

MMC powers Maintain a register and ensure registration of medical practitioners.

Prescribe code of ethics for regulating the professional conduct of doctors.

Reprimand a doctor or suspend, remove him/her from the register or take other disciplinary action, as per the council’s opinion.