Date:10/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/10/stories/2008121060931200.htm

New Delhi

Supreme Court orders fresh inspection of medical college

J. Venkatesan

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed the Medical Council of India to conduct a fresh inspection of the Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre near Chengalpattu to ensure that deficiencies pointed out in the earlier inspection had been rectified.

The medical college is run by the Karpaga Vinayaga Educational Trust, represented by its managing trustee Saroja Regupathy, wife of Union Minister S. Regupathy.

After hearing MCI counsel Maninder Singh and counsel Altaf Ahmed and K.K. Mani for the college, a Bench of Justices Altamas Kabir and Markandey Katju passed the order on an application filed by the college.

Approval rejected

On June 30, the apex court had dismissed a special leave petition from the MCI against the Madras High Court’s order dated 20, directing inspection of the college. After the SLP was dismissed, the MCI inspected the college but rejected approval citing the deficiencies. The present application is directed against this order.

The Bench pointed that it was due to the inaction by the authorities concerned that the institute moved the High Court, which gave certain directions. “The net result is that today although an inspection had been conducted and the deficiencies pointed out and since removed on July 25, no further action has been taken, purportedly on the ground that the time period for granting permission had already expired for the year 2008-2009.”