• The Indian Medicine Central Council (Amendment) Bill, 2005 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on March 23, 2005 by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss.  

• The Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970 (Principal Act) created a central council to regulate ayurveda, siddha, and unani medicine, set minimum standards for education, and maintain a register of all practitioners in these fields.

• Following commencement of this Bill, the existing central council is dissolved and the central government shall reconstitute the council as soon as possible.  In the interim, the central government shall appoint a Board of Administrators until it is reconstituted.

• The Board of Governors shall consist of no more than five members who are eligible to be members of the central council.  The Board of Governors shall perform all the functions of the central council until it is reconstituted or up to six months, whichever is earlier.   

• Currently, the council has members from states with registered ayurveda, siddha, and unani practitioners, a representative from each university, and centrally appointed members with specialized knowledge who make up no more than 30% of the council.  

• The Bill increases the membership of the council to include six ex officio officers who will be nominated by the central government.  These members will be advisers or deputy advisers from the ayurveda, siddha, and unani departments and directors from the three national institutes.        

• The Principal Act allows council members to serve a five year term or until a new successor is elected.  Members are also eligible for re-election or re-nomination to the council.  The Bill revises this and provides for a fixed term of five years from the date of election or nomination to the council and a two term limit.  The Bill also makes it mandatory for the government to hold elections three months before the council’s term expires.

• The Bill specifies that the council can recommend to the central government the removal of the president, vice-president, or any council member for misconduct.  A resolution must be passed by a majority of the total membership (excluding vacancies) and two-thirds of the members present and voting. 

• If the president of the council is removed, the vice-president shall fill the roleIf the vice-president is removed, the Bill permits the central government to appoint a person to fill the vacancy.

• The Bill also allows the central government to remove nominated members and dissolve any council committee on the ground of misconduct. 

• In the Bill , the central government may direct the central council. 

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