SC: Litigation over college admissions causes anxiety to students | Latest News India - Hindustan Times
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SC: Litigation over college admissions causes anxiety to students

Hindustan TImes, New Delhi | By
Sep 24, 2017 07:57 PM IST

The Supreme Court wants deterrent measures for colleges and state authorities from doing anything which generates such last minute litigation that leaves students in the lurch.

Annual litigation concerning admissions in medical colleges builds pressure on students and increases their anxiety, the Supreme Court has said while stressing the need to have deterrents to minimize cases filed around this time of the year.

The Supreme Court has allowed a few Kerala-based medical colleges to continue with the present academic year for the benefit of 400 students. The colleges’ did not meet the Medical Council of India’s paramenters.(HT PHOTO)
The Supreme Court has allowed a few Kerala-based medical colleges to continue with the present academic year for the benefit of 400 students. The colleges’ did not meet the Medical Council of India’s paramenters.(HT PHOTO)

The concern came from a bench of justices SA Bobde and LN Rao when it was hearing petitions on Friday by Kerala-based institutions challenging Centre’s refusal to permit them to conduct classes in the 2017-18 academic year. The private medical colleges complained the permission was denied due to “minimal” deficiencies.

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During the hearing the bench spoke of how differences between colleges and government authorities over grant of permission to admit students every year leads to a spurt in litigation, leaving the students in the lurch. Even in the case before it fate of 400 medical aspirants was at stake.

The Supreme Court is flooded with petitions filed by private medical institutions around the admission time. These cases are filed when colleges do not get approval from medical regulator – Medical Council of India (MCI) and the Centre to admit students for failing to meet the MCI’s prescribed standards. The MCI carries out inspection to check whether an institution conforms to the parameters.

“In these writ petitions, this court was compelled to take note of the annual recurrence of this kind of litigation which creates high pressure and anxiety for the students, medical institutions and all concerned,” the court said in its written order.

Read more: 778 medical students’ admission cancelled: Blame game begins

After discussing the issue with lawyers representing the government, the MCI and the colleges, the bench said: “..it is high time some deterrent measures be laid down for the colleges and the state authorities from doing acts which generate such last minute litigation.” The apex court will now take up the matter in December.

While disposing the case at hand, the bench allowed the colleges to continue with the present academic year. It expressed surprise on learning that the Centre had refused permission despite noting the deficiencies were not substantial. In the case of a particular college the Centre had also found the explanation for not being able to overcome the deficiencies convincing.

Taking note of the Kerala’s submission that it would be difficult for 400 students to obtain admission at this juncture, the SC did not uphold the MCI and Centre’s decision. However, the colleges were directed to remove the “marginal deficiencies” within a reasonable time period.

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  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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    Bhadra is a legal correspondent and reports Supreme Court proceedings, besides writing on legal issues. A law graduate, Bhadra has extensively covered trial of high-profile criminal cases. She has had a short stint as a crime reporter too.

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