A growing concern has emerged within the medical community, with numerous doctors reporting instances of harassment and intimidation by individuals masquerading as local leaders and Right to Information (RTI) activists. These alleged ‘activists’ are accused of misusing law, not for genuine public interest, but to fulfill their selfish desires, often leading to mental distress and operational disruptions for healthcare professionals. On Friday, Indian Medical Association (IMA) called a press conference to discuss the issue. This time, the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) himself became the target of this nexus.

 

As two persons including Narendra Kumar Rakeshiya and Ashish Mishra when seen that their objectives are not fulfilling by threatening the CMHO, registered a complaint at the office of Superintendent of Police of having their lives under threat due to the CMHO. However, Madhya Pradesh Nursing Home Association, Indian Medical Association, Government and Autonomous Doctors Maha Sangh Madhya Pradesh, Medical Teachers Association, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College Jabalpur and other organisations associated with medical field came in support of CMHO Dr Sanjay Mishra and they also registered a complaint against the organised gang that blackmails nursing homes and doctors.

 

The complaint was submitted to the Superintendent of Police, Jabalpur Collector, Divisional Commissioner, Municipal Corporation Commissioner, Principal Secretary, Health Department, Bhopal and Commissioner, Health Services, MP. According to doctors, Rakeshiya often blackmails doctors for illegal recovery. A complaint has been lodged against him in Civil Lines police station for criminal misuse of documents by stealing them from the ID of Chief Medical and Health Officer Dr Sanjay Mishra. Similarly, Jabalpur Civil Court has awarded him imprisonment of 7 years, 10 years, 7 years and 2 years respectively under sections 420, 467, 468 and 471 and fine of Rs 50,000 under each section, in case number 1300177/2014 for taking loan from bank by fraud. While Ashish Mishra, who remained the State Secretary of Samajwadi Party, has been accused in various cases including rape (IPC 376) and illegal recovery.

 

Dr Amrendra Pandey said that the doctors become tired of increasingly frequent filing of frivolous and vexatious RTIs, PILs and other applications, often seek highly personal or irrelevant information, such as detailed educational certificates, specific attendance records, or exhaustive financial data, which fall outside legitimate scope of public interest as defined by the Act. IMA President Dr Richa Sharma said that the underlying motive behind such queries is frequently not transparency but rather an attempt to exert pressure, extract money, or settle personal vendettas. There have been reported cases where individuals, after filing an RTI, have allegedly approached doctors with demands, implying that the withdrawal or favorable resolution of the RTI query could be achieved through illicit means. This predatory behaviour not only compromises the integrity of RTI Act but also creates an environment of fear and anxiety for medical professionals dedicated to patient care. JOGS President Dr Rakhi Bajpai appealed the authorities concerned to investigate these complaints thoroughly and to implement measures that safeguard doctors from such harassment.

 

The medical community emphasises importance of a clear distinction between legitimate queries aimed at ensuring public accountability and those designed for harassment. It is the clear opinion of IMA and MPNHA that the tendency to disrupt services by intimidating, threatening and trapping the medical sector in false accusations will not be tolerated. Dr Sanjay Mishra, CMHO, Dr Amrendra Pandey, President MPNHA, Dr Richa Sharma, President IMA, Dr Avijit Vishnoi, former President IMA, Dr Ashutosh Silodhia, President MTA, Dr Shamikh Raza, Secretary IMA, MTA, Dr Mahasangh Madhya Pradesh, Dr Adarsh Vishnoi, Nodal Officer, Nursing Home Association and senior doctors were present.