New Delhi, June 10 (HS): The Supreme Court has stayed the Delhi High Court's order declaring the appointment of Vijay Yashwant Deopujari as Chairperson of the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) as illegal. A vacation bench headed by Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra has issued a notice to the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine.The petition has been filed by Vijay Yashwant Deopujari. Deopujari has challenged the Delhi High Court's order from June 6 in the Supreme Court.

The Delhi High Court had declared Deopujari's appointment illegal. The High Court directed the Commission to expedite the selection and appointment process for the chairperson and to comply with its orders.Deopujari's appointment was made through a circular by the Ministry of Personnel Affairs on June 9, 2021. The petitions filed in the High Court stated that Deopujari does not possess the necessary postgraduate degree to be appointed as the chairperson of the Commission. According to the National Commission of Indian System of Medicine Act, possession of a postgraduate degree is mandatory for the chairperson of the Commission. The High Court stated that Deopujari holds a PhD degree, while the required degree is MD, which is equivalent to a master's degree in Indian System of Medicine.

The High Court noted that Deopujari's PhD degree was awarded by Pune University, where a master's degree is not a prerequisite for obtaining a PhD. Hence, his degree cannot be considered valid. Under Section 4(2) of the National Commission of Indian System of Medicine Act, a PG degree refers to an MD. The High Court observed that Deopujari was admitted to the PhD course without having completed a master's degree. His admission to the PhD occurred after obtaining a BAMS degree in Ayurveda.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar