Full Text
HIGH COURT OF DELHI
Date of Decision: 17th September, 2019
GLOCAL MEDICAL COLLEGE SUPER SPECIALITY HOSPITAL AND RESEARCH CENTRE ..... Appellant
Through: Mr. Neeraj Jain and Mr. Anupam Mishra, Advs.
Through: Mrs. Suparna Srivastava and Ms. Sanjna Dua, Advs. for R-1
Mr. T. Singhdev, Ms. Puja Sarkar, Ms. Michelle B. Das, Ms. Arunima Pal and Mr. Abijit, Advs. for R-MCI
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C. HARI SHANKAR O R D E R
17.09.2019 D.N. PATEL, CHIEF JUSTICE (ORAL)
CM No. 41413/2019 (exemption)
JUDGMENT
1. Exemption allowed, subject to all just exceptions.
2. The application is disposed of.
3. This Letters Patent Appeal has been preferred by the original petitioner, whose W.P.(C) 6958/2019 was dismissed by the learned Single Judge vide judgment dated 5th September, 2019. 2019:DHC:4679-DB
4. This appellant had preferred a writ petition for quashing and setting aside the order dated 18th May, 2019 passed by Respondent No. 2, which is at Annexure P-6 to the memo of this appeal.
5. Having heard counsel for both the sides and looking to the facts and circumstances of the case, it appears that this appellant was directed not to give admission to students in their MBBS course for the academic year 2019-20 by the impugned order dated 18th May, 2019 (Annexure P-6), mainly for the reason that there are as many as 25 deficiencies pointed out in the communication by respondent no. 2 to this appellant (original petitioner). These deficiencies were not removed and hence, the permission to admit students in their MBBS course for the academic year 2019-20 was refused.
6. It is submitted by counsel for the appellant (original petitioner) that the first inspection was carried out on 3rd January, 2019 and without giving a report, a second inspection was again carried out on 4th February, 2019. Counsel for the appellant submits that without giving a report of the first inspection, the second inspection could not have been carried out. Moreover, in a personal hearing given by the respondents on 7th May, 2019, in detail, it was pointed out by this appellant that there are no deficiencies, as enumerated by the respondents, with this appellant and hence, admission to students in MBBS must be allowed for the academic year 2019-20. It is also submitted by counsel for the appellant (original petitioner) that the removal of the deficiency has not been properly appreciated by the learned Single Judge while deciding the writ petition preferred by this appellant and hence, the judgment and order dated 5th September, 2019 passed by the learned Single Judge in W.P.(C) 6958/2019 deserves to be quashed and set aside. Counsel for the appellant has also submitted that the time limit which is prescribed can be relaxed by this Court while exercising its power under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. Much time has been consumed by the respondents in inspection, reporting and pointing out the deficiencies observed. The work, which was to be completed in the month of January, has been completed in the month of May, 2019 by the respondents and hence, delay is on the part of the respondents. Therefore, the time limit to give permission to this appellant and admission to students may be relaxed by this Court.
7. We have also heard counsel for the respondents who have submitted that no error has been committed by the learned Single Judge while deciding W.P.(C) 6958/2019 vide judgment dated 5th September, 2019. The respondents have pointed out, categorically, the deficiencies with this appellant-institution, which are as many as 25 deficiencies. These deficiencies have not been removed by this appellant. It is further submitted by counsel for the respondents that the appellant, initially, was very reluctant in allowing the inspection team to carry out the inspection, but later, the same was allowed. Counsel for the respondents submitted that this appellant had refused the carrying out of the inspection twice. This aspect of the matter has also been properly appreciated by the learned Single Judge. The deficiencies, which are enumerated in the order dated 18th May, 2019, were such that they cannot be ignored. Hence, no error is committed by the respondents while passing the order dated 18th May, 2019, whereby permission was refused to give admission to students in MBBS course for the academic year 2019-20. Counsel for the respondents has placed reliance upon the decision rendered by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Ashish Ranjan & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors., (2016) 11 SCC 225 and has submitted that the cut-off date for granting admission to students in MBBS for the academic year 2019- 20 was 31st August, 2019. Admittedly, this date has already passed and no relaxation can be granted by this Court looking to the judgment, order and the directions given by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the aforesaid decision. Reasons
8. Having heard counsels for both the sides and looking to the facts and circumstances of the case, it appears that this appellant (original petitioner) had preferred a writ petition, being W.P.(C) 6958/2019, wherein the order dated 18th May, 2019 (Annexure P-6) passed by Respondent No.2 was under challenge, whereby the respondents have refused to give permission to this appellant for admission of students in MBBS for the academic year 2019-20.
9. Looking to the order dated 18th May, 2019 at Annexure P-6, the following are the deficiencies pointed out by the respondents for this appellant: ―1. MCI regional (nodal) centre for training of staff for Medical Education is not mentioned.
2. Orientation and Basic course workshop has not been undergone by MEU faculty.
3. 3rd LT in College is under construction.
4. Students reading room in central in central library Inside &outside) less by 175 accommodation and reading staff reading room by 5.
5. Books less by 864, Journal Indian by 3, foreign by[2]
6. UG students hostel accommodation by 30 in boys hostel and in girls hostel
7. Resident + PG hostel accommodation less by
8. Residential quarters in teaching staff less by 6 and for non-teaching staff less by[6]
9. Biometric devices not installed in college
10. No of normal deliveries &Ceasarian Section - Nil
11. CT Scan done - Nil
12. No. of beds in NICCU/PICU is 1 each, deficient by 4 beds in each.
13. CT spiral Minimum 16slice, the purchase order has been placed.
14. Central Research Lab - not functional
15. In Anatomy dept. histology lab has seating capacity of 75 as against 90 (15 seats less)
16. Ten short tables less in Dissection Hall
17. In Patho Demo rooms (both) the capacity is less by 40 in each demo room (Required 80, available
40)
18. In microbiology service labs available are 4 against 7 (3 deficient)
19. In pharma dept. Experimental Pharma Labs not available and mannequins also not available.
20. In community Medicine, Demo room Capacity, for 70 as against80
21. No specialist visits in UHTC
22. Deficiency of Faculty - 74.35% (87/117)
23. Deficiency of Residents - 78.78% (52/66)
24. Only 5 pts in male surgical, 2 each in female surgical & Paed wards were admitted.
25. No surgery was performed, as per OT register on 19.1.2019. Post OT recovery data register showed last operation was done on 24.1.19."
10. The aforesaid deficiencies were pointed out by Respondent No.2 to this appellant and the same have not been removed.
11. Initially, the inspection team had visited this appellant, but it appears that inspection was not allowed. This has occurred twice previously, initially, on 3rd January, 2019 and secondly, on 5th April,
2019.
12. It further appears that the deficiencies which were pointed out, personal hearing was also given to this appellant on 7th May, 2019.
13. Counsel appearing for the appellant submits that these deficiencies have been removed. We are not in agreement with this contention, mainly for the reason that the inspection team of the experts have pointed out these deficiencies and they are not yet removed, as per Respondent No.2. Looking to the deficiencies pointed out as stated hereinabove, they are such that they cannot be ignored. These aspects of the matter have been properly appreciated by the learned Single Judge while deciding W.P.(C).6958/2019, vide judgment dated 5th September, 2019.
14. It has been held by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Ashish Ranjan & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors., (2016) 11 SCC 225 in the tables incorporated at pages 226-227, 227-228 and 228-229 of the decision as under: ―TIME
SCHEDULE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW MEDICAL COLLEGES/RENEWAL OF PERMISSION AND PROCESSING OF THE APPLICATIONS BY THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT AND THE MEDICAL COUNCIL OF INDIA
┌───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Sl. Stage of processing Last date │ │ Nos. │ ├───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ 1. Receipt of applications by the Between 15th │ │ Central Government. June to 7th │ │ July (both │ │ days │ │ inclusive) of │ │ any year │ │ 2. Forwarding application by the By 15th July │ │ Central Government to the │ │ Medical Council of India. │ │ 3. Technical scrutiny, assessment By 15th │ │ and recommendations for letter December │ │ of permission by the Medical │ │ Council of India. │ │ 4. Receipt of reply/compliance from Two months │ │ the applicant by the Central from receipt │ │ Government and for personal of │ │ hearing thereto, if any, and recommendat │ │ forwarding of compliance by the ion from MCI │ │ Central Government to the but not │ │ Medical Council of India. beyond 31st │ │ January │ │ 5. Final recommendations for the By 30th April │ │ letter of permission by the │ │ LPA 604/2019 Page 8 of 14 │ │ 2019:DHC:4679-DB │ │ Medical Council of India. │ │ 6. Issue of letter of permission by By 31st May │ │ the Central Government. │ │ Note 1. – In case of renewal of permission, the │ │ applicants shall submit the application to the │ │ Medical Council of India by 15th July. │ │ TIME SCHEDULE FOR RECEIPT OF APPLICATIONS │ │ FOR INCREASE OF ADMISSION CAPACITY IN MBBS │ │ COURSE/RENEWAL OF PERMISSION FOR INCREASE │ │ OF SEATS AND PROCESSING OF THE │ │ APPLICATIONS BY THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT │ │ AND THE MEDICAL COUNCIL OF INDIA │ │ 1. Receipt of applications by Between 15th │ │ the Central Government. June to 7th July │ │ (both days │ │ inclusive) of any │ │ year │ │ 2. Forwarding application by By 15th July │ │ the Central Government to │ │ the Medical Council of │ │ LPA 604/2019 Page 9 of 14 │ │ 2019:DHC:4679-DB │ │ India. │ │ 3. Technical scrutiny, By 15th │ │ assessment and December │ │ recommendations of letter │ │ of permission by the │ │ Medical Council of India. │ │ 4. Receipt of Two months │ │ reply/compliance from the from receipt of │ │ applicant by the Central recommendation │ │ Government and for from MCI but │ │ personal hearing thereto, if not beyond 31st │ │ any, and forwarding of January │ │ compliance by the Central │ │ Government to the │ │ Medical Council of India. │ │ 5. Final recommendations By 30th April │ │ for the letter of permission │ │ by the Medical Council of │ │ India. │ │ 6. Issue of letter of By 31st May │ │ permission by the Central │ │ Government. │ │ LPA 604/2019 Page 10 of 14 │ │ 2019:DHC:4679-DB │ │ Note 1.—In case of renewal of permission, the │ │ applicants shall submit the application to the │ │ Medical Council of India by 15th July. │ │ TIME SCHEDULE FOR COMPLETION OF THE │ │ ADMISSION PROCESS FOR FIRST MBBS COURSE │ │ Sl. Schedule for Seats to be filled Seats to be │ │ Nos. admission up by the filled up by │ │ Central the State │ │ Government Government │ │ through the All /Institution │ │ India Entrance │ │ Examination │ │ 1. Conduct of Between 1st to 7th Between │ │ entrance May 10th to 17th │ │ examination May │ │ 2. Declaration of By 1st June By 1st June │ │ the result of the │ │ qualifying │ │ exam/entrance │ │ exam │ │ 3. 1st round of To be over by Between 6th │ │ counselling/ 25th June July to 15th │ │ July │ │ admission │ │ LPA 604/2019 Page 11 of 14 │ │ 2019:DHC:4679-DB │ │ 4. Last date for By 5th July By 22nd July │ │ joining the │ │ allotted college │ │ and the course. │ │ 5. 2nd round of Between 23rd Between │ │ counselling/ July to 30th July 10th to 22nd │ │ August │ │ admission for │ │ vacancies. │ │ 6. Last date of By 9th August By 28th │ │ joining for the 2nd August │ │ round of │ │ counselling/ │ │ admission │ │ 7. Commencement of 1st of August 1st of August │ │ academic │ │ session/term │ │ 8. Last date up to By 31st │ │ which students August │ │ can be admitted/ │ │ joined against │ │ vacancies arising │ │ due to any reason │ │ LPA 604/2019 Page 12 of 14 │ │ 2019:DHC:4679-DB │ │ Note 1. – All India quota seats remaining vacant │ │ after last date for joining i.e. 9th August will be │ │ deemed to be converted into State quota. │ │ 2. Institute/college/courses permitted after 31st │ │ May will not be considered for admission/allotment │ │ of seats for current academic year. │ │ 3. In any circumstances, last date of │ │ admission/joining will not be extended after 31 st │ │ August.‖ │ └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
15. In view of the aforesaid time limit granted by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, permission ought to have been obtained by this appellant for the academic year 2019-20 by, latest, 31st May, 2019. This date has gone, and permission has not been given to this appellant.
16. Moreover, the cut-off date for admission of students in MBBS for the academic year 2019-20 was 31st August, 2019. This date has also gone and no admission has been given to any student. In view of the aforesaid decision and the directions given by the Hon’ble the Supreme Court, we see no reason to extend the time limit given by the Hon’ble Supreme Court for admission of students in MBBS.
17. Much has been argued by counsel for the appellant that the respondents have consumed much time and hence, this time limit has been crossed. Be that as it may, the fact remains that the time limit given by the Hon’ble Supreme Court has passed and hence, we see no reason to extend the time limit for the grant of permission, nor do we want to extend the time limit for admission to students in the academic year 2019-20. If at all this appellant is much aggrieved, by the behaviour of the respondents, they are at liberty to take action before the appropriate forum or tribunal or court.
18. The aforesaid facts, reasons and judicial pronouncements have been properly appreciated by the learned Single Judge while deciding the writ petition preferred by this appellant, being W.P.(C) 6958/2019, vide judgment dated 5th September, 2019. We are in full agreement with the reasons given by the learned Single Judge, hence, there is no substance in this appeal and the same is hereby dismissed. CM Nos. 41412-41413/2019
1. In view of the order passed in the appeal, these applications stand disposed of.
CHIEF JUSTICE SEPTEMBER 17, 2019/kr C. HARI SHANKAR, J.