SC refuses to interfere with Lodha panel’s decision on medical colleges

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has refused to interfere with Justice RM Lodha’s order, granting approval to 26 new medical colleges for this year, even as Vyapam whistle-blower

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has refused to interfere with Justice RM Lodha’s order, granting approval to 26 new medical colleges for this year, even as Vyapam whistle-blower Anand Rai, who moved the court against the decision, broke down while explaining the reasons behind his petition.

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A bench of justice AR Dave and justice LN Rao dismissed Rai’s petition but gave him liberty to move Justice Lodha panel, which on considering his suggestions will pass appropriate orders. The court said it did not want to interfere with the SC-appointed Oversight Committee (OC) because counselling for medical admissions to private medical colleges had already commenced on September 3.

Rai’s lawyer, senior advocate Parag Tripathi, argued the colleges should not have got the permission because they did not have infrastructure or faculty. He said Medical Council of India (MCI) should put the new colleges on notice and ask them to give a video presentation on the facilities available. A physical inspection by the MCI assessors can be conducted later.

Before the proceedings began Rai addressed the court, expressing his concern on behalf of the students. The whistle-blower was present in the court subsequent to its direction. “It (Rai’s petition) reads like MCI’s petition,” the bench had told Tripathi.

In a choked voice, Rai said that as a medical activist he was on a mission to clean the medical education system in the country. He said he did not sympathise with the MCI but was concerned about the future of students.

“If these colleges are not cleared after a physical verification the students will stare at an uncertain future,” Rai told the bench.