Madras High Court serves notice to MCI on age limit for Asst Profs post; to hear matter on Sept 19

NEW DELHI, SEPTEMBER 17: The Madras High Court has termed the recent notification of the Medical Council of India (MCI) fixing age limit for the post of senior resident/assistant professor in medical institutions. The Court has termed the MCI order of fixing age limit to 40 years as ‘illegal’.

The high court has ordered notice to be served to the MCI on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking an interim injunction restraining Clause 6 of Schedule -I of amended Minimum Qualification for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations, 1998.

The petitioners have contended that there was no age limit prescribed when they joined the PG medical courses. The Court will further hear the matter on September 19.

The MCI last year made the amendments to Medical Institutions Regulations and prescribed 40 years as the upper age limit for appointment to the post of assistant professor in government-run medical institutions.

The Medical fraternity has been raising their concern with the MCI since the new rule came into effect. A section of doctors moved the Madras High Court terming the regulation “unconstitutional, discriminatory and illegal”.

The petitioners have contended that when post-graduation is a necessary qualification to be appointed to the post of senior Resident or Assistant professor, any such restriction will lead to lack of the requisite number of faculty.