Date:10/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/10/stories/2007051015470800.htm

Tamil Nadu

Supreme Court to examine State's role

J. Venkatesan

Essentiality certificate for starting medical college

New Delhi: The Supreme Court will examine the Tamil Nadu Government's role in issuing essentiality certificate indicating no objection to starting a medical college in the State.

A Bench of Justice B. N. Agrawal and Justice P. P. Naolekar, observing that the matter required examination, issued notice to the Tamil Nadu Government on a special leave petition filed by the Deen Dayal Medical and Educational Trust against a Madras High Court judgment.

The Bench issued notice after hearing senior counsel Harish Salve and counsel K.K. Mani on the questions involved for determination in the SLP.

In the SLP, chairman and managing trustee T.D. Naidu stated that deficiencies pointed out by the inspection committee in the medical college were rectified. A second committee inspected the college again and recommended to the Government to issue essentiality certificate. However, ignoring the recommendations, the Government ordered a fresh investigation into the alleged deficiencies. On a petition from the Trust, the Madras High Court upheld the Government action. The SLP is directed against this judgment.

The petitioner said the SLP raised important questions of law.