The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) in a letter to the Dental Council of India (DCI) has directed it to ensure that its ex-President Dibyendu Mazumder has no access to official files, as DCI membership of Mazumder came to an end on the day he attained 65 years of age.

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The maximum age limit for a dental faculty member is 65 years, the age Mazumder completed on July 10. The MoHFW directive came after Kerala Dental Council president and DCI member Shaji K Joseph's written to the MoHFW on July 15 this year, seeking Mazumder’s removal as DCI president and member.

The ministry instructed that  Mazumder should be denied access to the official files and he should not be allowed to discharge any of the functions of DCI. Joseph stated that  Mazumder was holding the posts in violation of DCI rules. According to the Dentists Act, 1948, a member from the dental faculty of each university is elected as a member of the DCI. The maximum age limit for the posts of dental teachers or Dean or Principal is 65 years, under provisions of the MDS Courses Regulations, 2017. As Mazumder had attained the age of 65 years, he could not be treated as dental teacher/faculty. He has been designated as an honorary professor/professor emeritus, the Ministry said. Therefore, Mazumder's continuance in the position is in contravention of existing laws.