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2008 DIGILAW 4547 (MAD)

Medical Council of India, Rep. by its Secretary & Another v. SRM University (Established u/s. 3 of the UGC Act, 1956) & Others

2008-12-05

ASOK KUMAR GANGULY

body2008
Judgment :- A.K. Ganguly, C.J. 1. Heard the learned counsel for the parties. The writ appeal has been filed against an interim order dated 22. 2008 passed by a learned Judge of the writ court on a writ petition which was filed by the SRM University for starting a medical college called Chennai Medical College and Hospital at Irungalur Village, Manachanallur Taluk, Tiruchirappalli District. The learned Judge, after hearing the learned counsel for the parties, was pleased to grant interim order to the following effect: "It is open to the respondents to process the application in terms of law. Simultaneously, the Medical Council of India is directed to process the proposal of the petitioner to establish Chennai Medical College and Hospital at Irungalur Village, Manachanallur Taluk, Tiruchirappalli District, Tamil Nadu, to start I Year MBBS Course, including the inspection second respondent for the academic year 2008-2009, without insisting on Essentiality Certificate from the State Government of Tamil Nadu." 2. We have perused the said direction of the learned single Judge. It appears that in the first sentence, the learned single Judge directed the respondents to process the application in terms of law, but thereafter, the learned single Judge has gone on giving further direction, and the most vital part of the order is that a direction was given for inspection of the writ petitioner-University by the Medical Council of India without insisting on the Essentiality Certificate from the State Government. 3. Before us, the learned counsel appearing for the appellant has drawn our attention to the Medical Council of India (Establishment of Medical College) Regulations, 1999. From paragraph 3 of the said Regulations, it appears as follows:- "3. FORM AND PROCEDURE: Subject to the fulfilment of the above eligibility and qualifying criteria, the application to establishment of medical college in Form-1 shall be submitted by the person in the following parts, namely – Part-I Part-I of the application shall contain the following particulars about the person, namely, .(1) Status of the applicant in terms of the eligibility criteria; .(2) Basic infrastructural facilities, manegerial and financial capabilities of the applicant (Balance Sheets for the last three years in case the person is not a State Government or a Union Territory). .(3) Necessary certificates/documents as prescribed in qualifying criteria under paragraph 2." The necessary certificate/document as prescribed in the qualifying criteria under paragraph 2 would include the essentiality certificate. .(3) Necessary certificates/documents as prescribed in qualifying criteria under paragraph 2." The necessary certificate/document as prescribed in the qualifying criteria under paragraph 2 would include the essentiality certificate. This appears from paragraph 2 which describes the qualifying criteria and sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 2 prescribes as follows : "(3) that Essentiality Certificate in Form 2 regarding No objection of the State Government/Union Territory Administration for the establishment of the proposed medical college at the proposed site and availability of adequate clinical material as per the council regulations, have been obtained by the person from the concerned State Government/Union Territory Administration." 4. Reference in this connection may be made to the judgment of the Honourable Supreme Court in the case of Dental Council of India vs. S.R.M. Institute of Science & Technology reported in (2004) 9 S.C.C. 676 . In paragraph 10 of the said judgment, the Supreme Court did not approve of a similar interim order, which was passed in that case. The observation made by the learned Judges in paragraph 10 is set out below: "When that is the position in law, the High Court ought not to have made an interim order to process the application even in the absence of the permission or essentiality certificate because the application will not be complete without being accompanied by permission or essentiality certificate by the State Government along with certain other documents. An incomplete application cannot be processed either by the Central Government or the Dental Council. The argument advanced on behalf of the respondents will set at naught the law that in certain cases the courts need not insist on production of permission or essentiality certificate of the State Government, particularly, when the regulations insist upon the same." (underlined for emphasis) 5. In view of the above observations of the Honourable Supreme Court, the learned Judge of the writ court should not have passed the interim order in the way it has been passed. But in the facts and circumstances of the case, the matter has now become infructuous inasmuch as the Essentiality Certificate has now been issued by the State Government. So, even though the matter might have become infructuous, we set aside the interim order which was granted by the Court. The writ appeal is, however, dismissed as having become infructuous. 6. In view of the above, the writ petition also stands dismissed. So, even though the matter might have become infructuous, we set aside the interim order which was granted by the Court. The writ appeal is, however, dismissed as having become infructuous. 6. In view of the above, the writ petition also stands dismissed. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, M.P. No.2 of 2008 in the writ petition is closed.