Delhi High Court Directs NMC and DGHS to Submit Joint Inquiry Report on Doctors' Qualifications Within Two Weeks

The Delhi High Court has granted the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the Delhi government’s Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) a two-week deadline to submit a joint inquiry report regarding the medical qualifications of two doctors. The doctors are accused of mishandling a child during treatment.

Justice Neena Bansal Krishna issued the order on October 30 while presiding over a contempt petition. The petition was filed by Sapna Jain on behalf of her minor son, Devarsh Jain, with the allegation that authorities failed to comply with a previous judicial direction to submit the inquiry report.

Background of the Case

According to the petition:

• The petitioner claims that Devarsh suffered severe brain damage in 2017 after being allegedly mishandled by two doctors in the neonatal intensive care unit of Fortis Hospital in Shalimar Bagh.
• The petition alleges that the doctors misrepresented themselves as super-specialists.
• The child is stated to be in a permanent vegetative state, suffering from West syndrome, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy, alongside ongoing severe pain.

Court Proceedings and Deadlines

• March 2025: The High Court sought affidavits to clarify if the doctors' qualifications permitted them to practise as specialists in India.
• May 2026: The court directed the NMC Secretary and the DGHS to conduct a joint inquiry and submit a report within eight weeks.
• Contempt Petition: The petitioner alleged that authorities missed the July 24 deadline without seeking an extension and criticized the statutory regulator for failing to ensure transparency and accountability.

The High Court has scheduled the next hearing in the matter for December 16. Verification of the original judicial orders can be conducted through the official Delhi High Court case status portal.

Practical Implications

• Regulatory bodies face strict judicial timelines to ensure accountability in medical qualification verification.
• Affected parties can monitor case proceedings through official court tracking systems.