Supreme Court Dismisses Plea for Medical College Admissions in Jharkhand Due to Deficiencies

The Supreme Court of India has ruled against the plea of Dumka Medical College and others in the case of Dumka Medical College, Dumka & Another vs. Board of Governors in Supersession of Medical Council of India & Another. The petitioners sought permission to admit students for the MBBS course for the academic year 2020-21, but the Court dismissed the plea citing severe infrastructure and faculty deficiencies.

The case highlighted the failure of three newly established medical colleges in Jharkhand—Dumka, Hazaribagh, and Palamu—to meet the requirements set by the Medical Council of India (MCI). Despite earlier assurances from the state government, an inspection revealed serious shortcomings, leading the Court to deny permission for further admissions.

Background of the Case

Government’s Initiative to Establish Medical Colleges

The Government of India identified three districts in Jharkhand—Dumka, Hazaribagh, and Palamu—for establishing new medical colleges under the centrally sponsored scheme, “Establishment of New Medical Colleges Attached with Existing District/Referral Hospitals.” The state of Jharkhand granted essentiality certificates to all three colleges, and they were expected to meet the MCI’s requirements before admitting students.

Initial Approval and Deficiencies

The state government applied for permission to establish a medical college in Dumka with an annual intake of 100 MBBS students. The application was forwarded to the MCI, which conducted a physical assessment in December 2018. The assessment revealed severe deficiencies, including:

100% deficiency of faculty and resident doctors.
Low bed occupancy (only 25.3% as against the required standard).
Infrastructure issues—lack of lecture theatres, examination halls, and a central library.
Expired blood bank license and lack of adequate nursing staff.
No computerization of OPD records.

The MCI notified the college of these deficiencies and granted time for compliance. However, inspections conducted in 2019 and 2020 revealed that the problems persisted, despite repeated opportunities to rectify them.

Supreme Court’s Observations and Judgment

Key Issues Considered

The Supreme Court, led by L. Nageswara Rao and Krishna Murari, examined whether the three medical colleges in Jharkhand had met the required standards for admitting students for the 2020-21 academic year. The Court noted that:

The colleges had been given multiple opportunities to fix deficiencies but failed to do so.
Despite assurances from the Jharkhand government, serious gaps remained in faculty, infrastructure, and hospital facilities.
The deficiencies were not minor; they included a lack of teaching faculty, non-functional hospital facilities, and inadequate student accommodations.

Ruling of the Supreme Court

The Court dismissed the petitions, ruling that:

“Permission cannot be granted for allotment of students to medical colleges that lack the necessary infrastructure and facilities.”

The Court noted that despite repeated assurances from the Jharkhand government and multiple inspections by the MCI, the colleges had failed to rectify the deficiencies. The Court held that it would be unfair to students to allow admissions in institutions that did not meet the required standards.

Impact of the Judgment

The three medical colleges in Jharkhand—Dumka, Hazaribagh, and Palamu—were barred from admitting new students until they met MCI guidelines.
The Jharkhand government was directed to take immediate steps to rectify the deficiencies and apply for fresh approval for the next academic year.
The ruling set a precedent that state governments must ensure full compliance with MCI regulations before seeking approval for admissions.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court’s decision in Dumka Medical College vs. Board of Governors in Supersession of Medical Council of India underscores the importance of maintaining high standards in medical education. The ruling ensures that students receive quality education and training in institutions that meet the necessary requirements. While the judgment may seem harsh, it serves as a necessary step toward improving the healthcare education system in Jharkhand.

The Jharkhand government must now take urgent measures to rectify the deficiencies and apply for fresh approval, ensuring that future medical students do not suffer due to administrative failures.

Petitioner Name: Dumka Medical College, Dumka & Another.
Respondent Name: Board of Governors in Supersession of Medical Council of India & Another.
Judgment By: Justice L. Nageswara Rao, Justice Krishna Murari.
Place Of Incident: Jharkhand, India.
Judgment Date: 16-02-2021.

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