Summary
The Court set aside the refusal of 2017–2018 MBBS admissions where the authorities themselves acknowledged substantial compliance with infrastructure and academic requirements and no major deficiencies, but assigned no tangible reason to prohibit a fresh batch. It permitted up to 150 admissions through central counselling and, under Article 142, extended the college’s deadline to 5 September 2017. Future inspection and action after opportunity remained available.
Issues
- Whether refusal of a fresh batch was reasoned despite the authorities’ favourable compliance findings.
- Whether case-specific admissions and deadline relief were justified.
Held
- The impugned decision acknowledged a compliant college in infrastructure and academic matters and marginal staffing deficiencies, yet gave no tangible reason for denying 2017–2018 admissions. The reconsideration failed to implement the spirit of the Court’s earlier direction. (¶¶ 4, 7–8)
- The college was already functioning from 2016–2017 and had substantially fulfilled the permission conditions. The Court therefore allowed the petition and application in the larger public interest. (¶ 8–9)
- The bar was quashed to permit up to 150 admissions through central counselling in merit order. The college’s deadline was extended to 5 September 2017 under Article 142 in the peculiar circumstances; future inspection and lawful action on deficiencies after opportunity were preserved. (¶ 10)
Result
Petition and application allowed; up to 150 merit-based 2017–2018 admissions through central counselling permitted by 5 September 2017; no costs.