The Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology Trivandrum Act, 1980, being Act of Parliament was enacted as Act no. 52 of 1980 as for providing for declaring the institution being the Sree Chitra Tirunal Medical Centre Society which is for Advanced Studies in Specialities, Trivandrum, in the Kerala State as of national importance and also for its incorporation. The Act was assented on 3rd December, 1980 and provisions thereof were brought into force on 1st March, 1981 by the Notification dated 17th February, 1981 published by the Central Government in its Official Gazette. The Act was amended in the year 2005 by Act no. 40 of 2005.
The provision of Section 2 of the Act makes provisions similar to the main purpose of the Act i.e. the declaration of the Sree Chitra Tirunal medical Centre Society for advanced Studies in Specialities, Trivandrum, in the Kerala state, as the institution of National importance. The Institute was originated 1993 when the Royal Family of Travancore gifted a multi-storied building for the peoples welfare and the Kerala Government decided and as such the Sree Chitra Tirunal Medical Center was inaugurated in 1976 by the then Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission to the State of Kerala, Mr. P. N. Haskar.
The next provision i.e. section 4 speaks of incorporation of the said institute as a corporate body under its name ‘Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Trivandrum’. Section 5 provides for Vice- Chancellor of the Kerala University the Director- General of Health Services, Government of India, the Director being ex- officio and other members which the Central Government to be the part of Institute. Further, section 6 provides for term of officer of such members and also for vacancies thereof. Moreover, it is given that the Institute to have a Central Government nominated President. Such nomination to be made from the members of the Institute, however, Director should not be nominated as President and such President to perform such functions as given under this Act and provided by rules and regulations made under this Act. Similarly, the provisions regarding allowances of such president and other members will also be specified under the Rules made in this behalf.
Moreover, the Act provides for appointment of committees and Governing body for the Institute. Such other committees include the Ad hoc committees and Standing Committees. Such Governing body of the Institute is to be treated as the Executive Committee of the Institute and the aforesaid President will be the Chairman of such Body. And it specifically given under the Act that such Governing body, the Chairman, etc. to follow the procedure and perform their functions as the Regulations provides in this behalf.
Further, the staff of Institution, including Chief Executive Officer- CEO as Director of the Institute, are to be appointed by the Institute, however, the first Director’s appointment was reserved with the Central Government. And such Director of the Institution is required to act as the Secretary to the Institution and also to the Governing body of the Institution.
The provision of section 12 speaks of the Objects, which the Institution is provided with. There are three-fold objects of the Institution including promotion of biomedical engineering and technology; providing and demonstrating high standards of patient care in advanced medical specialities; and developing highest quality post- graduate training programmes in advanced medical specialities and biomedical engineering and technology. Similarly, the Section 13 provides for a number of functions which the Institute is obliged to perform. Such functions are required to be performed for the promotion of the aforesaid objects of the Institute. The list of functions is exhaustive as the last clause specifying functions says that the Institute is responsible to perform all other functions along with prescribed under this section which are necessary to contribute towards the object of thereof. The properties which previously were vested with the Sree Chitra Tirunal Medical Centre Society for Advanced Studies in Specialities, Trivandrum are required under section 14 to vest again in the Institute after the Act was commenced.
The Central Government is authorized under section 15 to provide an Institution with the fund as per law which the Parliament to provide. Such moneys are provided as for necessary to perform its obligation by the Institute. Section 16 says that such moneys and others which are received in the form of fees, charges, grants, gifts, etc. are to be credited to the Fund of the Institute and such moneys are required to spend on expenses of Institute which are incurred while performing functions under this Act. Further, the provisions regarding budget, accounts and auditing, annual reports, etc. are provided under subsequent sections under the Act. The Institute is also required to constitute funds being pension and provident funds for the benefit of employees, officers, etc. thereof.
Moreover, the Medical Qualification and degrees or diplomas which have been provided by the Institute is recognized under section 24 of the Act, irrespective of whatever contrary contained in the provisions of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (Act no. 102 of 1956). And such qualifications are required under this provision to include in the Schedule first annexed to the Act of 1956.
The performance of functions by the Institute is subjected to the control and directions of the Central Government, for the efficient administration of this Act. Moreover, the Institute is bound by decisions of the Central Government and also it should furnish such reports, returns, etc. to the Government as per its demands. Further, persons employed with the Sree Chitra Tirunal Medical Centre Society for Advanced Studies in Specialties are now became employees of the Institute. Section 30 empowers the Central Government again to provide for removal of any difficulty which if arose while giving the effect to the provisions of this Act. Similarly, it is authorized to make rules on given matters including carrying on the purposes and objectives of the Act. The Institute is also provided with the power to make regulations on the matters enlisted under section 32, being subjected to the provisions of this Act and aforesaid rules.
The Said Institute is now having 3 wings, i.e. Hospital, Biomedical Technology Wing and the Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies. The foundation stone of the third wing was laid by Dr. Manmohan Singh, the then Finance Minister of Government of India on 15th of June, 1992 and the said wing was dedicated to the Nation on 30th of January, 2000 by Dr. Murali Manohar Joshi, the then Minister of Science and Technology and Human Resource Development, Government of India.
by Faim Khalilkhan Pathan.