Mumbai, May 30 (IANS): An unholy row has erupted over the recent formation of the much-anticipated Maharashtra Acupuncture Council (MAC) -- India's first -- with allegations of favouritism, nepotism, and flouting of norms.

The MAC -- a watchdog body on the lines of the Medical Council of India -- was announced last week by the State Medical Education Department, with Rumi F. Beramji as its maiden President, besides a small list of committee members.

Surprisingly, the committee includes one ayurvedic doctor and two sujok practitioners, besides Beramji who is an allopathic and physiotherapist, with a part-time acupuncture practice, and one who is on the panel as he is reportedly a kin of a top state bureaucrat.

"This is indeed strange and shocking for the entire acupuncture community in the state and elsewhere. A globally acclaimed acupuncture expert like P.B. Lohiya and many others have been sidelined by certain vested elements," said Yogesh Kodkani, an acupuncture specialist.

Another acupuncture expert Deepak Rokde pointed out that during the preliminary work on the setting up a formal MAC in the past couple of years, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Medical Education department had categorically assured that "only persons with international prestige would be appointed" to the Council.

"However, the outcome is at complete variance with the original assurances... The huge acupuncture community in the state feels totally let down," rued Rokde.

Hinting at questionable dealings, Kodkani said that at a special meeting of acupuncture practitioners hosted by Beramji in 2017, Medical Education Director Praveen Shingare had made certain shocking revelations which are recorded (on audio-video).

He said Beramji had given an undertaking "to donate Rs 10 lakh and his private hospital space in Mumbai" to kickstart the proposed Council.

"How is it possible that an official Council like this can be started with one individual's donated funds and private property... This is unheard of anywhere in the country," Kodkani said, assailing the government's decision.

Contacted for reaction, Beramji said it was "not a bribe", but an official undertaking by him to finance the MAC operations, which was the crux of the issue ever since the bill was passed by the Maharashtra Legislature in 2015.

"I struggled to set up MAC since 2012 and offered to arrange the finances needed to start it, in writing, this was approved and cleared by two departments of the government," Beramji told IANS.

He said that he knows top Parsi industrialists including Ratan Tata and others personally and organising funds for the MAC would not be an issue "since it is for the people of the country", which the government accepted.

Rokde and Kodkani however pointed out that in 2017, the Association of Practitioners of Maharashtra & Mumbai in Acupuncture Science (APMMAS), filed a writ petition in the Bombay High Court against Beramji's probable appointment to the Council.

In its affidavit in reply, the Maharashtra government said that any appointments to the Council would be made "strictly on the basis of merit and expertise".

"In the present instance, merit is thrown to the winds, and bypassing norms, a person who offered money and space has violated the state's affidavit submitted in the Bombay HC," alleged Kodkani.

The APMMAS has now filed a fresh PIL challenging the appointments made in the Maharashtra Acupuncture Council which will come up for hearing shortly, he added.

When contacted, Council member Lohiya, after considerable prodding, commented that "merit and expertise in the ancient Chinese medical science" is of paramount importance, failing which the entire exercise of setting up MAC is meaningless.

He added it is up to the government and Fadnavis to take appropriate steps in the matter urgently since MAC is a trendsetter for the rest of the country.

Beramji added that the MAC will start proper educational courses, conduct examinations and award certificates to the successful candidates, the MAC will act as a watchdog to prevent any hanky-panky by practitioners.

"There are around 10,000 acupuncture practitioners in Maharashtra alone, but a majority of them are not qualified and are practicing illegally. The MAC will infuse transparency into the whole acupuncture medicine field for the benefit of the country," Beramji assured.