In a significant ruling, an Alipore court in Kolkata has stepped in to protect the professional interests of hundreds of doctors. The court has officially restrained the West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) from withholding crucial credit point certificates from physicians who participated in a major medical conference.
Court Order Against Arbitrary Action
The interim order, passed on Monday, specifically bars the WBMC from withholding the certificates for five credit points that were due to the attendees of the conference. Furthermore, the court directed the medical council to refrain from any whimsical acts that would contravene its own established guidelines. This legal intervention came after the council's unexpected reversal of its prior approval, which left nearly 900 medical practitioners in a lurch.
The GPCON 2025 Controversy Unfolds
The issue centers around GPCON 2025, a medical conference organized by the IMA Bengal State branch on October 26, 2025. Such conferences are vital for doctors, as earning Continuous Medical Education (CME) credit points is mandatory for the renewal of their medical registration. In preparation, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) had formally approached the WBMC seeking the allocation of credit points for the event's participants.
The council initially granted official approval for five credit points on October 14, 2025. However, in a sudden and unexplained move, the very next day—October 15—the WBMC sent an email to the organizers cancelling the approval. The council provided no reason for this abrupt withdrawal, creating immediate uncertainty and potential professional jeopardy for the hundreds of doctors who had attended in good faith.
Legal Recourse and Implications for Doctors
Faced with this arbitrary decision, the organizers of GPCON 2025 had no choice but to seek legal remedy. They approached the Alipore court, which swiftly heard the matter. The court's order effectively puts a hold on the WBMC's decision, ensuring that the doctors' earned credit points are protected until a fuller hearing can take place.
This case highlights the critical importance of procedural fairness in medical administration. The credit point system is not merely bureaucratic; it is directly tied to a doctor's legal right to practice. The court's emphasis on preventing whimsical actions underscores the need for transparency and consistency from regulatory bodies like the WBMC.
The ruling provides immediate relief to the approximately 900 individuals, including doctors and healthcare professionals, who dedicated their time to furthering medical knowledge at the conference. It ensures their professional development efforts are duly recognized, as originally promised.
