(REOPENS DEL44)

Once the bill becomes an Act, doctors enrolled with Indian Medical Register or the State Medical Register for 10 years will have to apply for renewal within a year. A new clause has been inserted in the proposed bill to give the Centre powers to remove president, vice-president or members on grounds of being declared insolvent, physically and mentally incapable and being declared by a court of having an 'unsound' mind, sources said. The other grounds for removal include conviction in an offence which, in the opinion of the central government, involves "moral turpitude". A person having acquired such financial or other interests which could prejudice his or her function can also be removed from the post, the Bill says. The president, the vice-president or a member of the MCI can also be removed if the Centre thinks that he or she has abused the position which renders his or her continuance in office "detrimental to overall public interest", the new Bill proposes. If found guilty of "proved misbehaviour", it can also lead to removal, the bill proposes, but a person cannot be removed from the post without being given "reasonable opportunity" of being heard in the matter. The Medical Council of India was established in 1934 under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1933. The Council was later reconstituted under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 that replaced the earlier Act.