Former chief of medical exam body was underqualified, finds probe

NEW DELHI :A former de facto chief of India’s apex examinations body for medical studies was not qualified to hold the post and probably also indulged in corruption, an independent investigation has found.

For 13 years, Bipin Batra conducted post-graduate and higher medical studies exams without meeting two of the three mandatory criteria for the job: Be an MBBS from a reputed medical school, hold a post-graduate degree and have three years’ experience in teaching.

When Batra became the assistant controller of examinations in the National Board of Examinations (NBE) in 2004 he was only an MBBS, a probe approved by the government against him in September found. Batra was removed from his post in August.

The investigation, conducted by retired IAS officer Afzal Amanullah, also found that Batra took the post-graduate exam in 2002 and 2003 but failed to qualify. Yet, he managed to become the NBE’s assistant controller of exams the next year.

Thereafter, he took the test for the Diplomate of National Board — a post-graduate equivalent position —and passed with flying colours when he himself was on the board that conducted and evaluated the exam.

Hindustan Times has seen Amanullah’s report which was submitted last week to the NBE, an autonomous body under the Union health ministry. Batra denies any wrong doing. He told HT: “I am yet to be given an opportunity by the committee to present my case. We must not jump the gun.” “These are not charges but issues right now because there are certain rules and regulations to be followed and they are still debating upon them.”

Amanullah, however, refuted Batra’s claim. “I met him twice. First, he gave me an oral presentation and in the second meet he gave me a written reply.”

Amanullah’s report also mentions alleged cases of malpractice and financial irregularities at the NBE on Batra’s watch.