``Besides disciplinary proceedings as per provisions of the Maharashtra civil service rules, the government is also considering initiating criminal proceedings against them for their alleged nexus with criminals,'' a senior government official told Express Newsline.

The official said as per the assurance given by Chief Minister Manohar Joshi to the Legislative Assembly last week, show-cause notices have been issued to K C Mohanty (department of chest and TB), Mohan Jagde, V Kasbekar (ENT), R M Hardas, Y A Machiswalla (psychiatrics), Chetan Oberoi (skin and VD) and M G Rathod (surgery).

Simultaneously, the official said the J J Hospital dean has been directed to ensure that no undertrial or convict is referred to these doctors either for admission or for clinicalexamination.

Following a series of reports in Newsline on the alleged nexus between a section of doctors attached to J J and criminals, the alliance government set up a high-level committee headed by KEM Hospital dean Pradnya Pai to probe the charges. Confirming the contents of the reports, the committee named these seven doctors for their alleged nexus with criminals. In its report submitted to government, the committee has given comprehensive guidelines on clinical examination, treatment and admission of criminals in government-run hospitals.

``On the basis of the recommendations, we have issued guidelines to deans as well as superintendents of government hospitals. Jail authorities have also been asked to be careful while recommending criminals to hospitals,'' the official said.

The official said additional facilities for treatment and diagnosis have been created at Thane civil hospital, so that inmates of Thane central prison are treated there itself. The official said while medical educationdepartment has been asked to initiate disciplinary proceedings against erring doctors, the home department is independently scrutinising the report.