Ramadoss nod to med college despite SC no
September 29, 2008: The Times of India
New Delhi: When it comes to granting clearances to medical colleges, the health ministry under Anbumani Ramadoss is a law unto itself. It can not only ignore a negative rating by Medical Council of India, but also openly defy the Supreme Court.
The health ministry moved to allow an Indore college to admit medical students the very day the institution’s plea had been rejected by the apex court.
On Friday, SC declined the plea of Index Medical College, Indore, to admit 150 students for 2008-09 as MCI, the statutory body which certifies whether a college be granted permission, said the institution’s infrastructure was inadequate for teaching students. After the court was apprised of MCI’s adverse report by counsel Maninder Singh, a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan sought the response of the Centre which had also inspected the college.
CASE STUDY
On Sept 26, SC declines permission to Index Medical College, Indore, to admit 150 students for 2008-09. Says it can try next year
Within hours of SC verdict, ministry asks college to admit students for ongoing academic year before September 30
Indore medical college had failed MCI inspection
New Delhi: In a move defying SC order, the health ministry has allowed an Indore college to admit medical students the very day the institution’s plea had been rejected by SC.
Additional solicitor general Gopal Subramaniam, appearing for the Centre, supplemented MCI’s assessment, saying the central team too had found the infrastructure ‘‘woefully inadequate’’. He told the Bench that no permission could be granted.
Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for Mayank’s Welfare Society which runs Index Medical College, had no option but to accept the SC verdict wishing it better luck for the next academic session.
The order clearly read, ‘‘ASG Gopal Subramaniam, appearing for Union of India, stated that inspection was also conducted but the percentage of the teaching staff in various departments and other facilities were inadequate and the petitioner institution cannot be given permission’’.
It added, ‘‘The writ petitions are accordingly disposed of without prejudice to their rights and to continue to get permission in the next calendar year.’’ But the petitioner did not have to wait for even a day longer. Within hours of the SC’s thumbs down, the health ministry wrote to the chairman of Mayank’s Welfare Society, saying the college could admit 150 students this year itself by September 30.
The September 26 letter from the ministry, signed by under-secretary N Barik, said, ‘‘After careful consideration of MCI inspection reports and central team inspection report, the approval of the central government is granted for renewal of permission for admission of second batch of 150 MBBS students for the academic year 2008-09 at Index Medical College.’’
This, despite the fact that MCI had conducted four inspections of the college on May 8, May 9, May 27 and August 19 and each time, found the infrastructure inadequate. The executive committee of MCI had considered the inspection reports and recommended to the Centre not to renew permission for the admission of 150 students for 2008-09.
The law laid down by the Supreme Court says, ‘‘It is the Medical Council which is primarily responsible for fixing standards of medical education and overseeing that these standards are maintained.’’
