Bhopal: In accordance with the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s directive, the state administration has dismissed Jiten Shukla, the chairman of the MP Nursing Registration Council (MPNRC), and Anita Chand, its secretary.
Manoj Kumar Sariyam, previously serving as the Additional Director in the Health Services Department, has been appointed as the new chairman. Krishna Kumar Rawat, the ECO of the National Health Mission, takes over from Chand as the new secretary.
The official notification issued on Thursday states that Sariyam and Rawat are to assume their new roles immediately.
This action followed a December 13 ruling by a division bench of the MP High Court, which found that Shukla and Chand were implicated in a nursing college scam. Justices Sanjay Dwivedi and A.K. Paliwal criticized their continued positions, noting that their involvement rendered their appointments unacceptable.
The court’s decision stemmed from a petition by Vishal Baghel, president of the Law Students’ Association, who filed separate motions requesting the removal of Chand and Shukla due to allegations of their involvement in a scam concerning unauthorized nursing college accreditations.
Baghel argued that their positions posed a risk of them influencing evidence related to the scam. He specifically cited that Anita Chand was a member of the inspection committee that had falsely reported on March 4, 2022, leading to the unauthorized recognition of RKS Nursing College in Bhopal, which was later rescinded.
Baghel also highlighted that Shukla was the MPNRC director during various irregularities connected to the approval of nursing colleges. After reviewing the applications, the court ordered Shukla and Chand to explain why they were appointed to significant roles within the MPNRC, subsequently instructing their immediate removal.
The court emphasized that it could not permit individuals involved in the previous recognition process to hold key positions, as they might attempt to protect themselves and others or tamper with evidence.