HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA WRIT PETITION No. 23630 OF 2025

O R D E R:

Challenging the proceedings dated 18.07.2025 issued by the 4^th respondent - Under Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB), prohibiting petitioner Institute of Medical Sciences from admitting students to the MBBS Course for the Academic Year 2025-26, this Writ Petition is instituted. Petitioners contend that the Impugned Order is in gross violation of the principles of natural justice, suffers from non- application of mind, prejudice, arbitrariness and violates the Fundamental Rights of petitioners, including their Right to Equality under Article 14 of the Constitution.

1.1 The 1^st petitioner - Medicare Educational Trust was established in 2001 with the objective of providing healthcare to the poor and needy. In line with this, the Trust established a hospital, medical college, B.Sc. Nursing College, B.Sc. Allied Health Sciences and other paramedical programs. In 2002, Medicare General Hospital was set up with an initial capacity of 150 beds at H.No. 19-3-159/B, Hunter Road, Rangasaipet, Thimmapur (H), Warangal, on a 33-acre campus named Father Colombo Health City. The hospital, one of the largest in Warangal, expanded its capacity to 645 beds and offers a range of super-specialties. Due to its reputation for providing excellent, low-cost care, it attracts patients from various parts of the state and neighbouring states.

1.2 Desirous of expanding its philanthropic activities, the Trust sought to establish a medical college in Warangal. Accordingly, the Government of Telangana issued an Essentiality Certificate on 29.08.2022, permitting establishment of the 2^nd petitioner - Father Colombo Institute of Medical Sciences with an annual intake of 150 MBBS seats for the Academic Year 2023-24. The certificate noted that the Trust owns and manages a 300-bedded hospital and possesses Acs. 13.34 Guntas of land in Hunter Road, Rangasaipet, Warangal. On 30.08.2022, the 6^th petitioner - Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNR University) granted a Consent of Affiliation, subject to permission from the National Medical Commission (NMC).

1.3 It is stated, based on these documents, the Trust applied to NMC. A surprise inspection was conducted by a team of assessors on 10.02.2023. Satisfied with the facilities, the Medical Assessment & Rating Board (MARB) issued a Letter of Intent (LoI) on 21.02.2023 for 150 MBBS seats, which was followed by a Letter of Permission on 03.03.2023. Subsequently, after inspection by the Principal of Kakatiya Medical College, Hanamkonda, KNR University granted Provisional Affiliation on 26.06.2023 for the Academic Year 2023-24. Following all necessary permissions, petitioner college was listed on the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) portal, and 150 students were admitted for the Academic Year 2023-24.

1.4 Petitioners highlight significant change in Annual MBBS Admission Regulations, 2020 (for short ‘2020 Regulations). At the time of initial permission, the college met all the faculty requirements as per the Regulations. However, on 19.09.2023, the NMC notified the Amended Guidelines for Under Graduate Courses under Establishment of New Medical Institutions, Starting of New Medical Courses, Increase of Seats for Existing Courses & Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023 (for short, ‘2023 Regulations). These Regulations significantly increased the faculty requirement for 150 seats from 83 to 114. For the first time, a mandatory requirement of additionally employing 3 Senior Residents in every department (both Pre-Clinical and Para-Clinical) was introduced. The new Regulations also introduced the Aadhar Enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS), requiring daily AEBAS of staff, preferably with face recognition, to be made available to the NMC and on the college website.

1.5 It is stated, in the State of Telangana, 11 new Government Medical Colleges and three new Private Medical Colleges were established in 2023 and 2024. T