Madras HC names retired judge TMC head

Chennai: The Madras High Court on Wednesday appointed Justice K.Venkataraman, a retired judge of the Madras high court, to be the Administrator to conduct the election of the Tamil Nadu Medical Council (The Tamil Nadu unit of the Medical Council of India) and to administer the day-to-day affairs of the council including the financial transactions till a new Council takes charge after the election.

Justice M. Duraiswamy passed the order while disposing of a petition from Dr T. Sadagopan, one of the former members of the TN Medical Council. The judge acceded to the request of senior counsels P.Wilson and ARL Sunderesan, who were appearing for either side, to appoint a retired judge of this court as an Administrator to conduct the election of the Council and to administer the day-to-day affairs of the Council.

The judge said the Administrator shall have cheque signing and bank account operating powers of the Council, besides the power to sign all certificates. The Administrator was requested to conduct the election to the TN Medical Council as expeditiously as possible, preferably within 3 months.

It was open to the Administrator to get adequate police protection at the time of conducting the election to the Council. If any request was made by the Administrator to the jurisdictional police, the concerned DCP was directed to provide adequate police security and protection.

The judge said it was also open to the Administrator to appoint a Registrar, either the present Registrar or any other person on a temporary basis, i.e., till the new Council takes charge after the election. It was open to the newly elected Council members to appoint a permanent Registrar. It was also open to the Administrator to get the assistance of any advocate or any such person of his choice at the time of conducting the election, the judge added.