New Delhi | Special Correspondent: Arun Sharma

In a decisive assertion of regulatory authority, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has ordered stringent action against alleged illegal admissions and systemic irregularities in super-speciality courses at Lok Nayak Hospital, linked with Maulana Azad Medical College. The move is being seen as a strong and unambiguous message from the government—that compromise with standards in medical education will not be tolerated.


Following a detailed inquiry, the NMC has directed disciplinary and criminal action, cancelled unlawful admissions, ordered student migration, and flagged deep-rooted administrative failures, underlining the government’s resolve to protect both public health and the future of medical students.


Serious Violations Uncovered
In its January 28 order, the NMC’s Medical Assessment and Rating Board accepted the findings of the final inquiry report, which established non-compliance with statutory norms in:
MCh Neurosurgery
DM Neuro-Anaesthesia
The commission noted deficiencies in faculty strength, departmental infrastructure and administrative oversight—amounting to what it termed an institutional failure.


Students Shielded, Accountability Enforced
Placing students’ interests at the forefront, the NMC ordered:
Degree protection for the 2022–25 MCh Neurosurgery batch
Immediate academic migration of the 2023–26 batch to Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (GIPMER)
Admissions to the 2024–27 MCh Neurosurgery batch were declared void ab initio, with students to be accommodated on humanitarian grounds at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences (ABVIMS) and GIPMER against vacant seats.


Similarly, the DM Neuro-Anaesthesia 2024 batch has been ordered to migrate immediately to a recognised institution due to the absence of a valid department and faculty.


Former HOD Faces Action
The NMC has instructed the Delhi Government to initiate penalty proceedings and criminal investigation against Dr P.N. Pandey, former Head of the Neurosurgery Department at Lok Nayak Hospital, under whose tenure the alleged irregularities and grave misconduct occurred.


To ensure fairness and neutrality, the commission has called for the appointment of an independent inquiry officer, preferably from outside Delhi government medical institutions.


Criminal Probe Under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
The matter has been directed for criminal investigation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, covering alleged offences of:
Cheating and inducement of students
Forgery and misrepresentation
Criminal conspiracy
Abuse of official position
Systemic Gaps Flagged
The NMC report sharply criticised:
Lapses in honouring undertakings related to faculty and infrastructure
Weak administrative oversight
Structural mismatch between academic responsibility and administrative control between Lok Nayak Hospital and Maulana Azad Medical College
The Health Department has also been asked to coordinate with central authorities to remove an irregular MCC code created in violation of regulations.


A Clear Message from the Government
The action is being widely viewed as a watershed moment in medical regulation, reinforcing that the government will act decisively to uphold standards in healthcare education. By protecting students while holding erring officials accountable, the NMC has drawn a firm line between institutional prestige and regulatory compliance.
For the medical education sector nationwide, the message is clear:

Quality, transparency and accountability are non-negotiable—and violations will invite the toughest response.