Audit Exposes Disparities in Delhi Medical Council

The Delhi government’s Health and Family Welfare Department said on May 16 that it had received a special audit report flagging alleged financial and administrative irregularities in the Delhi Medical Council, or DMC, between 2019 and 2025. The report was prepared by the Directorate of Audit and examined alleged violations of the Delhi Medical Council Act, DMC rules and general financial rules, according to an official statement. The audit also reviewed committee meeting records, personal files, service records and expenditure details, the department said. The Delhi Medical Council is a statutory body constituted under the Delhi Medical Council Act, 1997, and its role includes maintaining the register of medical practitioners in the National Capital Territory, hearing appeals and taking disciplinary action in misconduct cases. The Delhi government’s health department says the council also handles complaints from patients and relatives and oversees ethics-related functions through multiple committees. (newindianexpress.com) ### What did the audit say was irregular inside the council? The May 16 statement said the audit pointed to alleged irregularities in service extensions beyond the retirement age, spending without required approvals, lapses in compliance with financial rules, irregular payments and poor maintenance of official records. The report specifically said the retirement age of the then registrar was increased from 60 to 65 in alleged violation of orders issued by the Centre and the Delhi government. (indiacode.nic.in) The Indian Express, citing the audit report, said the findings also covered expenditure on Diwali gifts, foreign trips, medical insurance payments and other administrative expenses. That report said the audit estimated losses of more than Rs 10 crore to the exchequer and recommended recovery of more than Rs 3.23 crore in salary, allowances and related expenditures from former registrar Dr Girish Tyagi. (health.economictimes.indiatimes.com) ### Who is named in the findings, and for how much? Dr Girish Tyagi, the former registrar, was named in the audit findings as being responsible in his official capacity for a loss of more than Rs 5.57 crore due to reduced fees collected from doctors for DMC registration renewal between 2019 and 2025, according to the Health and Family Welfare Department’s statement. The same statement said the audit examined expenditures on salary and allowances, vehicle hiring, medical reimbursements, telephone expenses, conference participation and other administrative heads during the review period. (indianexpress.com) The Indian Express reported that Tyagi joined the DMC as deputy registrar in June 2007 and became registrar in July 2008. It said he was originally due to retire at 60 in November 2019, but a February 2019 DMC amendment raised the retirement age to 65 and his service was later extended again without mandatory approval, according to the audit. (health.economictimes.indiatimes.com) ### What has Tyagi said in response? Dr Girish Tyagi told The Indian Express that the audit findings were “misleading” and said they appeared aimed at “deliberately creating a false public perception of corruption where none has been established.” He said the issue of his extension was being selectively projected and argued that, as registrar, he could not grant an extension to himself. (indianexpress.com) Tyagi also said the extension was approved by the 25-member Delhi Medical Council through its decision-making process and said the matter was sub judice. In March 2025, he had separately told The Indian Express that he had taken permission from the Delhi government for extending his tenure. (indianexpress.com) ### How long has the government been examining the council? On March 6, 2025, the Delhi health department wrote to the DMC seeking details on allegations against president Dr Arun Gupta, vice-president Dr Naresh Chawla and registrar Dr Girish Tyagi, including financial misconduct and illegal continuation in office. The letter followed a complaint from North West Delhi MP Yogender Chandoliya and raised questions about salary withdrawals, hiring decisions and use of funds after tenure expiry, according to The Indian Express. (indianexpress.com) On May 17, 2025, Health Minister Pankaj Singh said the government had sent a proposal to Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena seeking dissolution of the council and asked the Directorate General of Health Services to oversee its functions until a new body was formed. New Indian Express later reported that the council was dissolved on June 18, 2025, and that a five-member inquiry panel led by Dr Digvijay Dutta submitted a separate probe report in August 2025. (indianexpress.com) ### What happens next for Delhi’s medical regulator? The Health and Family Welfare Department said on May 16 that it is examining the findings and recommendations in the special audit report. The official statement did not set a deadline for action or specify whether recovery proceedings, disciplinary steps or structural changes would follow. (newindianexpress.com) The next formal step is likely to come from the Delhi government, which already moved in 2025 to shift oversight to the Directorate General of Health Services while the DMC’s future was under review. Any further action on recovery, appointments or a reconstituted council would run through the health department and the Delhi government’s statutory process under the Delhi Medical Council Act. (newindianexpress.com) (health.economictimes.indiatimes.com)