New Delhi: The Supreme Court has fixed a deadline for medical and dental councils to grant recognition and approval for new courses. A bench of justice AK Patnaik and justice Swatanter Kumar said: “The commencement of new courses or increase in seats of existing courses of MBBS/BDS are to be approved/recognised by the Government of India by 15th July of each calendar year for the relevant academic sessions of that year.” “After 15th July of each year, neither the Union of India nor the Medical or Dental Council of India shall issue any recognition or approval for the current academic year. If any such approval is granted after 15th July of any year, it shall only be operative for the next academic year and not in the current academic year,” it ordered. The court also clarified that if any college getting recognition after the fixed deadline admits students, it will stand liable for withdrawal of its recognition.

The bench further warned that violation of its orders would invite both contempt proceedings and initiation of department action against the violators. The directions were issued by the court initiated contempt proceedings against six officials in connection with the admission granted to two girls - Akansha Adile and Priya Gupta - in the MBBS course for the academic year 2006-07 in the Government NMDC Medical College, Jagdalpur in Chandigarh, on September 30, after overlooking the claims of several other meritorious students and the time schedule. Contempt proceedings were initiated against the director general, Directorate of Health Services; SL Adile, director of Medical Education; the dean of Jagdalpur College; and MS Banjan, PD Agarwal and Padmakar Sasane, members of the selection committee. Akansha is the daughter of SL Adile.