Seeking more powers to deal with cases of corruption in Medical Council of India, health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said he has sought advice from the law ministry on how to proceed in the case against the MCI President arrested on corruption charges.

After the image of MCI, the regulatory body for medical collges, took a dent with the arrest of its president Ketan Desai, Azad said government's immediate concern was to restore the credibility of the institution.

"I have referred this case to law ,ministry on 29th of last month (May)....I am awaiting its response. Whatever the Law Ministry suggests, I will go with it," Azad said replying to a Calling Attention on the functioning of MCI, which members from all parties termed as "Medical Corruption of India".

Azad said since Desai was elected as MCI chief in Supreme Court-monitored MCI elections with thumping majority, government would like to take a correct line in the case. He was responding to a demand from the members for a commission of inquiry into the allegations.

Pleading for support of Parliament for a fresh law for fixing the tenure of MCI president and vice president and empowering the government to act firmly, the health minister regretted that the bill in this regard was almost vetoed down by the Parliamentary Standing Committee.

The bill introduced in 2005 had, among other things, proposed a maximum of two terms for the MCI Presidents and Vice Presidents. The proposed powers to the government for removal of the MCI bosses and direct its executive committee were also rejected by the Parliamentary panel. The present law, he said, suffered from loopholes.

Azad said since demand for more colleges amidst shortages of teaching faculty was one of the reasons for corruption in the medical colleges, the government has sanctioned 10,000 additional post graduate seats within three years.

He asked state governments to increase the retirement age of the faculty members to at least 65 years. He said in Kerala the age limit was 55 years and J and K, it was 58 years.

Perturbed over media reports of government inaction, Azad said, "Nobody can raise a finger against (my) ministry."

He said immediately after taking over last year, he had banned entry of touts and middlemen in the corridors of the Health Ministry.

Azad said he has enjoyed a clean image in his stewardship of J and K as its Chief Minister. "When I became Chief Minister, I wrote on my personal pad to all the secretaries, commissioners, deputy commissioners and SSPs that if any member of my family or son telephones ....don't entertain.