Visually challenged Anka Toppo is to complete MBBS: NHRC expresses appreciation to AIIMS

Upon the intervention of the National Human Rights Commission and following a dozen sittings of the Commission, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has agreed to make arrangements for a visually challenged medical student, Mr. C.S.P. Anka Toppo, to appear for MBBS final examination. Mr. Toppo had earlier been denied permission to appear in the final examination of the MBBS after he lost his sight as a result of Eale’s disease.



Mr. Anka Toppo approached the Commission stating that he had been denied permission to appear for the final MBBS examination in May 2001 for “want of approved guidelines” from the Medical Council of India (MCI). He also alleged harassment by the faculty and misinformation in respect of himself, in order to prevent him from writing the final examination, even though he could now read the normal books required for the course with the help of a computer and a scanner.



Mr. Toppo had originally been selected for an MBBS course at AIIMS in 1989. He passed the first and second professional examinations and was to appear in the final examination in December 1993. But barely two months before the final examination, he lost his sight and a series of operations had not been able to restore any vision.



On the advice of the Commission, which also drew attention to similar instances having arisen in other countries over the years, the authorities at AIIMS discussed the issues arising from Mr. Toppo’s case with some of its former Directors and Deans. They reached the opinion, however, that in view of the severe visual loss suffered by Mr. Toppo, it would not be possible for him to work in the medical profession. The authorities informed the Commission that they could, nevertheless, grant Mr. Toppo a degree in Human Biology and also help him to get employment at AIIMS. Mr. Toppo, however, insisted on pursuing his medical career despite the loss of his sight. In the course of the proceedings, the Deputy Commissioner for Persons with Disability, Institute for the Physically Handicapped, Delhi, Ms. Anuradha Mohit, appeared before the Commission on behalf of the petitioner. She elaborated on the provisions of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights & Full Participation) Act, 1995 which comprises statutory provisions to provide persons with disabilities with equal opportunities in all matters, including the acquisition of knowledge and employment.



Mr. Toppo brought to the notice of the Commission that his case was not the first of its kind, as one Dr. Y.G. Parameswarappa of Karnataka had been allowed to complete his MBBS under similar circumstances in 1977 by the Bangalore Medical College. Dr.Parameswarappa, he stated, had been associated with the Department of Pharmacology of the Bangalore Medical College over the last 20 years. In this connection, the Commission learnt of film footage compiled by a TV Channel concerning Mr. Parameswarappa and arranged a viewing of it during one of its hearings.



The Commission then asked the authorities at AIIMS to consider whether the methods adopted for examining Dr.Parameswarappa could be applied in the case of Anka Toppo. The Commission also arranged a meeting between Dr.Parameswarappa and the Director of AIIMS, Dr. P.K. Dave to assist the latter in ascertaining the factual position as to the manner in which Dr. Parameswarappa had taken his final MBBS examination inspite of being visually challenged. It was learnt that Dr.Parameswarappa had been provided with a “writer” to assist him during his theory papers. He had also been allowed to complete his internship with the help of an assistant.



On 23 May 2001, the authorities at AIIMS informed the Commission that they were of the opinion that it was possible to examine the petitioner, Shri Toppo, for the MBBS course inspite of his disability, by offering a modified methodology of examination. The Director, AIIMS, also informed the Commission that he was taking steps to examine Shri Toppo for the final MBBS examination at the earliest and that the latter would be kept informed of arrangements. Further, in the light of the experience of this case, an exercise has been undertaken in the Institute to work out a methodology, which could be adopted in all similar cases in future so that there was a system in position which could be put into practice each time such a situation arose. A Committee of Experts was being constituted for the purpose and the entire exercise would require about three months to be in place.



At its sitting on 28 May 2001, the Commission placed on record its appreciation of the efforts made by the Director, AIIMS, Dr. P.K. Dave and his colleagues. The Commission also expressed the view that the Medical Council of India should perform a similar exercise so that the same facility and system is available in other medical institutions of the country as well