It is bizarre to note that the apex governing body for dentistry in the country, the Dental Council of India (DCI), is unsure about factual position of Dr VK Prajapati’s registration, who happens to be none other than the Head of Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery & Oral Implantology at RIMS, Ranchi.
The fact came out after the DCI in its letter sent to the Department of Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare of Jharkhand, dated January 3 this year, raised the matter and sought clarifications.
Based on the decision taken in the Executive Committee meeting of the council held on December 28, 2017 Secretary of the DCI Dr Sabyasachi Saha writes that, “…I am directed to enclose herewith the representation dated 21.12.2017 along with its enclosures received from Dr Vivek Kumar, Hon’ble Member, DCI representing State of Jharkhand, on the subject above, you are requested to kindly intimate the factual/present status on cancellation of registration of dentists made by the Government of Jharkhand,” while seeking extinguishment of nomination of Dr VK Prajapati as member of the DCI.
On its part, the Council also requested the State Government to send the representative u/s 3(e) of the Dentists Act, 1948 there who has “valid registration” as per the Act in future and in a sense perceived that Dr Prajapati along with many other dentists in the State does not have legitimate registrations.
Notable here to know that even the Ministry of Health had written the State Government raising doubts over date of registration of Dr Prajapati who had migrated from Bihar to Jharkhand. State’s Health Minister Ramchandra Chandravansi in February 2017 itself had directed the Additional Chief Secretary of the Department for conducting a probe into nomination of the Dr Prajapati into the DCI and his registration here. When contacted, concerned officials of the Department said no progress on the matter had been made so far.
Following the development, Ranchi chapter of the Indian Dental Association on January 23, 2018 sent a missive to the Department demanding dismissal of Dr Prajapati from the Dental College, RIMS.
“This is to inform you that Dr VK Prajapati working as a Professor in the Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery & Oral Implantology, Dental College, RIMS, Ranchi should immediately be dismissed/removed due to his illegal appointment. It has also come to our knowledge that Dr SP Mishra, Registrar of Jharkhand Dentist Registration Tribunal has resigned from the post who himself was not having a valid registration due to violation of section 46A and 32(2) of the Dentists Act, 1948,” writes Dr VK Bhagat, president of the IDA, Ranchi.
Importantly, the Registrar of Jharkhand Dentist Registration Tribunal had quit following a letter issued by Manoj Kumar Sinha, Deputy Secretary of the Department on November 30, 2017 seeking details of all the valid registered dentists practicing in the State.
On his part, Dr Prajapati disowned the allegations and also claimed having clearance on the issues even from the DCI. “There are some vested interests involved. The matter has been cleared from the Council as well,” he replied to The Pioneer’s quarries.