Summary
The Medical Council challenged a High Court order permitting a medical college to admit students despite governmental debarment and the Supreme Court’s earlier restriction. The Court condemned the grant of relief without awaiting the regulators’ replies, confirmed that the admitted students could not continue, and ordered compensation and fee refunds.
Issues
- Whether the High Court properly granted permission contrary to the earlier Supreme Court order and without allowing the regulators to respond.
- What relief should follow for affected students and the institution’s request concerning 2018–2019.
Held
- The High Court granted relief with unjustified haste, denying the Central Government and MCI time to file counter-affidavits. Without their replies the factual controversy could not properly be resolved. Permission and renewal for the relevant sessions were unwarranted in light of the Supreme Court’s earlier order and the deficiencies in issue. (¶ 4–9)
- Judicial propriety requires discipline, respect for binding decisions and reasoned scrutiny of the record. Adjudication cannot turn on personal notions or subjective impressions in departure from established legal procedure. (¶¶ 9–15, 18)
- The earlier stay and direction preventing admitted students from continuing were confirmed. The institution was ordered to refund fees and pay each admitted student Rs 10 lakh as compensation, with additional costs of Rs 25 lakh payable before the Supreme Court within eight weeks. The institution’s prayer concerning 2018–2019 was expressly rejected. (¶ 16–19)
Result
MCI appeal allowed. Students barred from continuing; institution directed to refund fees and pay Rs 10 lakh to each admitted student, and deposit Rs 25 lakh costs within eight weeks. Its 2018–2019 prayer rejected.