[ad_1]
Jaipur, Supreme Court has imposed fine in an important decision Imposing a fine of Rs 10 crore each on 10 private dental colleges in Rajasthan for irregularities in admissions, it said the gross illegality and willful violation of rules by them requires strict punitive action.
Noting that the standards of medical education have been weakened in the case, a bench of Justices Vijay Bishnoi and JK Maheshwari expressed strong disapproval over the actions of these colleges and the state government.
The court also directed the state government to deposit A fine of Rs 10 lakh with Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority for failing to follow legal procedures in BDS admission for 2016-17 academic session.
The court’s strict order came after serious irregularities were found in the admission process, where the Rajasthan state government, without permission, had reduced the NEET percentage by 10 per cent and 5 per cent against the minimum percentage required for BDS students.
These cuts allowed a group of students to gain admission to dental colleges despite failing to meet the minimum eligibility criteria established by the Dental Council of India. Moreover, the colleges in question admitted another group of students beyond this 10.5 per cent relaxation.
The court, in its December 18 judgment, after using its full power under Article 143 of the Constitution to do complete justice, provided relief to students admitted after relaxation in NEET percentage for the academic year 2016-17 by regularizing their BDS degrees.
Rishabh Sancheti, counsel for 59 students in the lead petition, said the Supreme Court has directed all the students who have been granted relief to file an affidavit before the Rajasthan High Court and render services free of cost to the state government whenever they are called upon to serve the people during disasters, disease outbreaks or other emergencies in the state.
The top court highlighted that colleges have blatantly violated the 2007 rules by admitting students with a relaxation of 10 to 5 per cent. The state government’s unauthorized move to grant such relaxation as well as its failure to promptly communicate the decisions of the central government and the DCI were sharply criticized.
”We are bound to express our displeasure at the manner in which the standards of medical education have been weakened in the present case.
The Court commented, “The colleges committed gross illegality and deliberate violation of the 2007 rules while admitting more than 10 5 per cent of students, thus requiring strict punitive action.”
Sancheti said the heavy fine imposed on the colleges is not only a punitive measure but also a step towards ensuring better legal and procedural adherence in admissions in future.
The court directed that the fine amount be deposited with the RSLSA within eight weeks and the amount be utilized for the welfare of social institutions including one stop centres, Nari Niketans, old age homes and child care institutions in the state.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without any modifications to the text.
[ad_2]
