“We have received large scale complaints against many such bodies including that of Bihar Council of Medical Registration, Bihar State Dental Council and other Councils and Boards related to pharmacy, nursing and indigenous systems of medicine, and decided to probe their functioning,” health minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey was quoted in the Hindustan Times as saying.

He said the complaints include harassing of graduates who come for registration and attempting to extort money from them on flimsy grounds. As per the records, some of the candidates were so harassed and tortured by the Councils of the Ayurvedic, Homeopathic and Pharmacy that they had to approach the court for redressal.

In most of the cases, the complaints involved registrars, the minister said adding that several such institutions were devoid of democratic ethos and there was hardly any election for years to appoint their members.

“I have also come to know that they openly violate government rules pertaining to the appointment of their functionaries,” he added. “Recently, I have initiated action against the registrar of the state Homeopathic Board for violating government guidelines. Functionaries of other Councils may face similar action,” he said.

“I will soon set up a high level committee to investigate their operations and see to it that they become accountable to the government,” he said.