The issue was raised in the Council by Congress member Vidya Belose this afternoon.

Initiating the discussion through a point of propriety, Belose claimed the Health department had been unjust to Dr Nikita Mayekar despite the fact that she was the victim of misbehaviour.

A few days ago, Belose said, a woman chairperson of one of the committees of the Ratnagiri ZP was admitted to hospital late at night. Dr Mayekar was attending to the patient when the president and chairmen of the ZP arrived outside the hospital and asked to see her. Mayekar however was busy tending to her patient and trying to reach the resident medical officer, and was unable to go out immediately.

Later, Belose added, when she went out to see theofficials, she was shocked to discover that they were drunk. The men then began arguing with the doctor, accusing her of ``deliberately wasting their time'', Belose said.

They started misbehaving with Mayekar, who refused to talk to them and retired to the hospital, Belose said, adding Mayekar was transferred to another hospital within 16 hours of the incident.

Belose demanded a stay on Mayekar's transfer and an inquiry into the incident.

Ratnagiri guardian minister and Minister of State for Urban Development Ravindra Mane however denied the charges made by Belose.

``Certain facts about the incident must be cleared,'' he said. ``The men were not drunk when they went to the hospital and the doctor made them wait for more than half an hour. They did not misbehave with her at all.''

Opposition leader Chhagan Bhujbal said Mayekar's transfer should be stayed with immediate effect. While, Education Minister Sudhir Joshi strongly objected to the demand, saying such a decision would start ``improperpractices'' in the House.

Council Chairman N S Pharande however directed the Health Minister to look into the matter. Aher assured the House that ``justice will be done'' to Nikita Mayekar and that the inquiry would be completed within two days.