IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
Ashok S. Kinagi, J.
Hillside Ayurveda Medical College and Hospital – Petitioner
Versus
The Union of India and Others – Respondents
Writ Petition No. 5023 of 2021
Decided On : 04-09-2023
| Table of Content |
|---|
| 1. petitioner seeks to quash denial of admission. (Para 1) |
| 2. factual background on petitioner's request. (Para 2) |
| 3. respondents argue for compliance with regulations. (Para 3 , 4) |
| 4. petitioner argues lack of fair hearing. (Para 6 , 8) |
ORDER :
1. The petitioner filed the present writ petition seeking for the following reliefs:
(1) Quash the impugned order dated 12.02.2021 passed by the R-1 denying permission to the petitioner institution to admit students to 50 seats of UG (BAMS) course for the academic year 2020-21 produced at Annexure-A.
(2) Direct the R-1 to accord/grant 'conditional permission' to the petitioner institution to conduct UG-BAMS course with 50 seats for the academic year 2020-21.
(3) Declare the action of the R-2 CCIM in forwarding its recommendations to the Central Government under section 13(A)(4b) of the IMCC Act, 1970 without giving an opportunity to the petitioner to comply with the shortcomings as mandated under section 13(A)(4a) of the IMCC Act, 1970, as illegal and arbitrary and violative of the clear mandate of the enactment.
2. Brief facts leading rise to filing of this petition are as under:
Petitioner is an Ayurvedic Medical College imparting education in the undergraduate course of BAMS and was established by the 'Bheemachandra Education Trust' in the year 1996. Since its inception, the petitioner - institution is running BAMS course of study without interruption. In January 2020, the petitioner - institution applied for grant of permission under Section 13(A)&(C) of the Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970 (hereinafter referred to as 'the IMCC Act' for short) for the academic year 2020-21 for conducting BAMS course with intake of 50 seats for the academic year 2020-21. The petitioner uploaded Part I of the 'Scheme' on the web portal of the Central Government and respondent No. 2. As per the time schedule fixed for conducting of inspection of the institution, the respondent No. 2 ought to have conducted the inspection of the institution within March 2020. However, due to onset of global pandemic, the inspection was not conducted within the specified time. The respondent No. 2 conducted a surprise inspection of the petitioner - institution on 01.10.2020. The inspectors of respondent No. 2 inspecting the institution failed to take on record the changes in the teaching faculty as on the date of inspection made from the date of uploading of Part I of the 'Scheme' in January 2020. The respondent No. 2 without taking into account the available teaching faculty, as on the date of inspection, has forwarded the recommendations to respondent No. 1 under Section 13(A)(4b) recommending not to grant permission to the petitioner - institution, without providing an opportunity to comply with the shortcomings as per the mandatory requirement under Section 13(A)&(4a). No communication is issued to the petitioner - institution notifying the shortcomings and no opportunity was given to the petitioner - institution to comply with the same. The respondent No. 1 upon receipt of recommendation of respondent No. 2, issued a show-cause notice dated 07.01.2021 under Section 13(A)(5) directing the petitioner - institution to show cause that the petitioner - institution had the requisite facilities / teaching facility as on the date of inspection. Two minor shortcomings are noted in the show-cause notice. The petitioner was directed to appear before the hearing committee through video conferencing on 13.01.2021 and to produce all relevant valid documents to substantiate the claims of the petitioner regarding the deficiencies pointed out by respondent No. 2. The respondent No. 1 has not sought for compliance of shortcomings noted in the show-cause notice. The representatives of the petitioner - institution appeared before the hearing committee and brought to their notice that the petitioner - institution had all the requisite facilities and teaching faculty as on the date of inspection with the teachers being ph
AI
Administrative inaction within statutory timeframes can result in automatic approval, emphasizing compliance with legislative mandates.
The main legal point established is that the decision-making process must adhere to principles of natural justice and be free from bias.
The consequences of inaction by the respondents within the specified time must follow as per the legal fiction provision in Section 13A(6) of the IMCC Act.
The judgment establishes the principle that strict compliance with statutory requirements is essential, and institutions cannot admit students without approval, bearing responsibility for any resulti....
(1) No person is entitled to establish a medical college except with previous permission of Central Government.(2) In order to be eligible for grant of permission for undertaking admissions in a part....
The court emphasized that denial of renewal of educational permission without providing an inspection report and opportunity to rectify deficiencies violates principles of natural justice.
The court emphasized the need to encourage institutes with necessary infrastructure for running ayurvedic medical colleges to contribute to strengthening the infrastructure of the system of medicine ....
Point of Law : It emerges that application for renewal made by petitioner is rejected mainly on two grounds that Average Bed Occupancy is less than 30% as per Regulations 2019 and that teaching staff....
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