Mumbai: Human Rights Commission Summons Senior MCGM Health Officials Over MLC Muster Rules At Civic Hospitals

On August 15, 2026, the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission summoned two senior officials from the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) over alleged irregularities in maintaining Medico-Legal Case (MLC) registers at civic hospitals. The summons were issued to Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Public Health) and Chief Medical Superintendent of Peripheral Hospitals, MCGM, after they failed to appear before the Commission to provide details about MLC muster policies and regulations.

The Commission warned that if the officials do not appear at the next hearing, they may face legal action. The matter was adjourned for further hearing on August 27.

The summons followed a complaint by Sinhal Ganvir alleging that patients with medico-legal cases were being referred to other hospitals for registration due to the absence of MLC registers in certain civic hospitals, particularly M. W. Desai Municipal General Hospital in Malad (East). The complaint claimed that patients faced unnecessary inconvenience as they were sent to other facilities for MLC registration. The issue also reportedly extended to several smaller civic hospitals and had been ongoing for years.

In response, Dr Jairaj S. Acharya, Senior Medical Officer of M. W. Desai Municipal General Hospital, submitted a report to the Commission, stating that the hospital had begun maintaining an MLC muster and treating medico-legal cases since October 2025. The report highlighted that the hospital had started following Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for handling MLC cases after sensitizing its staff on medico-legal responsibilities, patient rights, and ethical obligations.

The Commission noted that the issue had been addressed at this hospital but expressed concern about a broader issue requiring examination - the policies and practices followed across MCGM-run hospitals regarding MLC muster maintenance. The Commission directed the two officials to submit details about the policies, rules, and regulations governing MLC muster maintenance in all MCGM-run hospitals.