High Court quashes MCI recommendation against intake in medical colleges

The High Court on Monday quashed the recommendation by the Medical Council of India (MCI) to the Union government, not to renew the permission to increase the intake of medical students by private medical colleges in the State. 

Justice A S Bopanna passed an order, directing MCI to consider the reference made by the Union government, along with the compliance report submitted by the private medical colleges to reassess, re-verify and re-submit recommendations to the Union government by September 3, 2014. The bench also directed the Union government to communicate with the private medical colleges after the receipt of recommendations from MCI, before September 6, 2014.

The order was passed on a batch of petitions by eight medical colleges as the Union government had rejected their applications on the basis of the recommendations by the MCI. The colleges alleged that MCI’s recommendation for rejection of their applications was without proper investigation and that they were not heard.

The Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangalore, Al-Ameen Medical College and Hospital, Bijapur, Yenepoya Medical College, Mangalore, NITTE University, Mangalore, JSS University, Mysore, KLE University, Belgaum and Siddartha Medical College, Tumkur, had applied for increasing the number of medical seats. Akash Institute of Medical Sciences, Devanahalli, had applied for licence to start a medical college.

Lake pollution

The High Court has ordered that notices be issued to the BBMP and the BWSSB with regard to encroachments on storm water drains and discharge of effluents into the City’s lakes. 

A division bench comprising Chief Justice DH Waghela and Justice Ashok B Hinchigeri gave the order on a PIL filed by Citizen Action Group. The petitioner has sought directions from the court to the civic agencies to desilt the stretches of storm water drains which are at present filled either with garbage or weeds. 

The NGO also demanded that a sewage treatment plant be installed at the junction where water from the storm water drain enters the lake. Besides, the court should issue directions that non-degradable pooja items be not discharged into the lakes. 

The petitioner also prayed that a survey be conducted on the City’s storm water drains, including details of encroachments on them, and submitted within six weeks.