Friday, April 24, 2009

Right to education includes: Right to safety: SC

Avinash Mehrotra a public sprit activist, demanding enforcement of children’s fundamental right education in a safe and secure environment by filing a Writ Petition (Civil) No.483 of 2004, decided on April 13, 2009. The verdict came from a bench headed by Justice Dalveer Bhandari and his companion Judge Lokeshwar Singh Panta.

The Hon’ble Supreme Court on April 13, 2009 a day before Fire Safety Day i.e. on 14th April, ordered the installation of fire-extinguishin equipment and implementation of building safety measures in all government and private schools across India to check the recurrence of any mishap like the July 2004 school fire in Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, that claimed the lives of 93 children.

In view of what has happened in Lord Krishna Middle School in District Kumbakonam and other incidents which have been enumerated, it has become imperative that each school must follow the bare minimum safety standards, in addition to the compliance of the National Building Code of India, 2005, in particular Part IV - Fire & Life Safety and the Code of Practice of Fire Safety in Educational Institutions (IS 14435:1997) of the Bureau of Indian Standards. The said safety standards are enumerated herein below:

3.1 Fire Safety Measures in Schools:

· Provision of adequate capacity and numbers of fire extinguishers of ISI marks to be provided in eye-catching spots in each block of the school.

· First Aid kits and necessary medicines should be readily available in the school.

· Provision of water tank and separate piping from the tank with hose reel to the ground floor and first floor.

· Fire fighting training to all teachers and students from X to XII standards.

· Fire Task Force in every school comprising of Head of the institution, two teachers / staff members and one member from the Fire and Rescue Department should be constituted. The Fire & Rescue Department member shall monitor and make fire safety plan and conduct inspections once in every three months.

· Display of emergency telephone numbers and list of persons to be contacted on the notice board and other prominent places.

· Mock drills to be conducted regularly. Fire alarm to be provided in each floor and for rural schools separate long bell arrangement in case of emergency.

· All old electrical wiring and equipment shall be replaced with ISI mark equipments and routine maintenance conducted by the School Management in consultation with the Fire and Rescue Department.

· No High Tension lines should run inside or in close proximity to the school. Steps must be taken to shift them if they are already there.

· The Fire and Rescue Department shall frame guidelines with “DOS and DON'Ts” for schools and issue a fitness certificate, which shall be renewed periodically.

3.2 Training of School Teachers & Other Staff:

· The teachers along with other staff shall be trained to handle safety equipment, initiate emergency evacuations and protect their students in the event of fire and other emergencies by the Fire and Rescue Department.

· They shall also be trained in providing emergency first-aid treatment.

· There shall be a School Safety Advisory Committee and an Emergency Response Plan drafted by the Committee in approval and consultation with the concerned Fire & Rescue Department.

· Emergency Response Drills conducted at regular intervals to train the students as well as the school staff.

· All schools to observe Fire Safety Day on 14th of April every year with awareness programs and fire safety drills in collaboration with the Fire and Rescue Department.

3.3 School Building Specifications:

· The school buildings shall preferably be a `A' Class construction with brick / stone masonry walls with RCC roofing. Where it is not possible to provide RCC roofing only non-combustible fireproof heat resistance materials should be used.

· The nursery and elementary schools should be housed in single storied buildings and the maximum number of floors in school buildings shall be restricted to three including the ground floor.

· The School building shall be free from inflammable and toxic materials, which if necessary, should be stored away from the school building.

· The staircases, which act as exits or escape routes, shall adhere to provisions specified in the National Building Code of India 2005 to ensure quick evacuation of children.

· The orientation of the buildings shall be in such a way that proper air circulation and lighting is available with open space all round the building as far as possible.

· Existing school buildings shall be provided with additional doors in the main entrances as well as the class rooms if required. The size of the main exit and classroom doors shall be enlarged if found inadequate.

· School buildings have to be insured against fire and natural calamities with Group Insurance of school pupils.

· Kitchen and other activities involving use of fire shall be carried out in a secure and safe location away from the main school building.

· All schools shall have water storage tanks.

3.4 Clearances & Certificates:

· Every School shall have a mandatory fire safety inspection by the Fire and Rescue Services Department followed by issuance of a ‘no objection certificate’ to the School as a mandatory requirement for granting permission for establishing or continuation of a School.

· An Inspection Team consisting of experts like a Civil Engineer, a Health Officer, a Revenue Officer, a Psychologist, a Fire Officer, a local body officer and a development officer besides the educational authorities shall carry inspection and assessment of infrastructural facilities before the commencement of each academic year. The Team shall submit its Inspection Report to the concerned district Chief Educational Officer.

· The building plans for schools shall be prepared only by a Government certified engineer and the PWD Executive Engineer concerned should inspect the building and award a structural stability certificate. Stability Certificates shall be issued by the State or Central Government Engineers only and shall be mandatory for granting permission for establishing or continuation of a School.

· In every district, one Recognition Committee headed by a retired judge shall be constituted. Officials from Revenue Department, Public Works Department, Fire Service, Electricity Board, Health and Education Department, a reputed NGO shall be members. They shall visit the schools periodically or at least the erring institutions as listed by the Chief Education Officer.

· Conditional recognition / approval shall never by resorted to for any school.

Hon’ble Apex Court concluded that “In the end, we should need to do little but enforce existing laws and encourage States in their own well-intentioned safety programmes. However, in the years since the fire at the Lord Krishna Middle School, some States have moved slowly and safety standards have varied in quality across States. These delays and variations have subjected millions more school children to danger from fire, earthquakes and other causes, when simple enhancements could offer much greater protection. Articles 21 and 21-A of the Constitution requires that India's school children receive education in safe schools. In order to give effect to the provisions of the Constitution, we must ensure that India's schools adhere to basic safety standards without further delay.

It is the fundamental right of each and every child to receive education free from fear of security and safety. The children cannot be compelled to receive education from an unsound and unsafe building.

In view of what happened in Lord Krishna Middle School in District Kumbakonam where 93 children were burnt alive and several similar incidences had happened in the past, therefore, it has become imperative to direct that safety measures as prescribed by the National Building Code of India, 2005 be implemented by all government and private schools functioning in our country. Court directed that:

· Before granting recognition or affiliation, the concerned State Governments and Union Territories are directed to ensure that the buildings are safe and secured from every angle and they are constructed according to the safety norms incorporated in the National Building Code of India.

· All existing government and private schools shall install fire extinguishing equipments within a period of six months.

· The school buildings be kept free from inflammable and toxic material. If storage is inevitable, they should be stored safely.

· Evaluation of structural aspect of the school may be carried out periodically. We direct that the concerned engineers and officials must strictly follow the National Building Code. The safety certificate be issued only after proper inspection. Dereliction in duty must attract immediate disciplinary action against the concerned officials.

· Necessary training be imparted to the staff and other officials of the school to use the fire extinguishing equipments.

In view of the importance of Article 21A, it is imperative that the education which is provided to children in the primary schools should be in the environment of safety.

The court ordered implementation of various safety measures against fire and addressing other security concerns of schools within six months. The Education Secretaries of each State and Union Territories are directed to file an affidavit of compliance of this order within one month after installation of fire extinguishing equipments. Matter is listed on December 07, 2009 to ensure compliance of this order.

Constitutional obligations of the State: Quality of Education

Constitutional obligations of the State: Quality of Education

History in India:

Education occupies an important place in our Constitution and culture. There has been emphasis on free and compulsory education for children in this country for a long time. There is a very strong historical perspective. The Hunter Commission in 1882-83, almost 125 years ago, recommended Universal Education in India. It proposed to make education compulsory for the children. [Para 20]

The Government of India Act, 1935 provided that "education should be made free and compulsory for both boys and girls." While debating in a bill in Imperial Legislation Council in 1911, Shri Gopal Krishna Gokhale strongly advocated that elementary education should be both compulsory and free. [Para 21]

Our original Framers of the Constitution placed free and compulsory education in the Directive Principles. The un-amended Article 45 provided that:

"The State shall endeavour to provide, within a period of ten years from the commencement of this Constitution, for free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of fourteen years." [Para 22]

The Kothari Commission on Education set up by the Government of India in 1966 strongly recommended free and compulsory education for children up to 14 years. The Commission observed that there is no other way for the poor to climb their way out of this predicament. [Para 23]

Education occupies a sacred place within our Constitution and culture. Article 21A of the Constitution, adopted in 2002, codified this Court's holding in Unni Krishnan, J.P. & Others v. State of Andhra Pradesh & Ors. (1993) 1 SCC 645, in which we established a right to education. Parliament did not merely affirm that right; the Amending Act placed the right to education within the Constitution's set of Fundamental Rights, the most cherished principles of our society. [Para 24]

As the Court observed in Unni Krishnan (supra), Para 8:

"The immortal Poet Valluvar whose Tirukkural will surpass all ages and transcend all religious said of education:

"Learning is excellence of wealth that none destroy;

To man naught else affords reality of joy." [Para 24]

Education today remains liberation - a tool for the betterment of our civil institutions, the protection of our civil liberties, and the path to an informed and questioning citizenry. [Para 25]

Then as now, we recognize education's "transcendental importance" in the lives of individuals and in the very survival of our Constitution and Republic. In the years since the inclusion of Article 21A, we have clarified that the right to education attaches to the individual as an inalienable human right. [Para 25]

We have traced the broad scope of this right in R. D. Upadhyay v. State of A.P. & Ors. AIR 2006 SC 1946, holding that the State must provide education to all children in all places, even in prisons, to the children of prisoners. We have also affirmed the inviolability of the right to education. [Para 26]

In Election Commission of India v. St. Mary's School & Ors. (2008) 2 SCC 390, we refused to allow the State to take teachers from the classroom to work in polling places. While the democratic State has a mandate to conduct elections, the mundane demands of instruction superseded the State's need to staff polling places. Indeed, the democratic State may never reach its greatest potential without a citizenry sufficiently educated to understand civil rights and social duties, Bandhua Mukti Morcha v. Union of India & Ors., (1997) 10 SCC 549. These conclusions all follow from our opinion in Unni Krishnan. Education remains essential to the life of the individual, as much as health and dignity, and the State must provide it, comprehensively and completely, in order to satisfy its highest duty to citizens. [Para 26]

Unlike other fundamental rights, the right to education places a burden not only on the State, but also on the parent or guardian of every child, and on the child herself. Article 21A, which reads as follows, places one obligation primarily on the State:

"The State shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years in such manner as the State may, by law, determine." [Para 27]

By contrast, Article 51A (k), which reads as follows, places burden squarely on the parents:

"Fundamental duties - it shall be the duty of every citizen of India who is the parent or guardian to provide opportunities for education to his child or, as the case may be, ward between the age of six and fourteen years." [Para 28]

The Constitution directs both burdens to achieve one end: the compulsory education of children, free from the fetters of cost, parental obstruction, or State inaction. The two articles also balance the relative burdens on parents and the State. Parents sacrifice for the education of their children, by sending them to school for hours of the day, but only with a commensurate sacrifice of the State's resources. The right to education, then, is more than a human or fundamental right. It is a reciprocal agreement between the State and the family, and it places an affirmative burden on all participants in our civil society. [Para 29]

This Court has routinely held that another fundamental right to life encompasses more than a breath and a heartbeat. In reflecting on the meaning of "personal liberty" in Articles 19 and 21, we have held that "that `personal liberty' is used in the article as a compendious term to include within itself all the varieties of rights which go to makeup the `personal liberties' of man." Kharak Singh v. State of U.P. & Ors. AIR 1963 SC 1295, para 16. [Para 30]

Similarly, we must hold that educating a child requires more than a teacher and a blackboard, or a classroom and a book. The right to education requires that a child study in a quality school, and a quality school certainly should pose no threat to a child's safety. We reached a similar conclusion, on the comprehensive guarantees implicit in the right to education, only recently in our opinion in Ashoka Kumar Thakur v. Union of India & Ors. (2008) 6 SCC 1. [Para 30]

The Constitution likewise provides meaning to the word "education" beyond its dictionary meaning. Parents should not be compelled to send their children to dangerous schools, nor should children suffer compulsory education in unsound buildings. Likewise, the State's reciprocal duty to parents begins with the provision of a free education, and it extends to the State's regulatory power. No matter where a family seeks to educate its children, the State must ensure that children suffer no harm in exercising their fundamental right and civic duty. States thus bear the additional burden of regulation, ensuring that schools provide safe facilities as part of a compulsory education. [Para 31]

In the instant case, we have no need to sketch all the contours of the Constitution's guarantees, so we do not. We merely hold that the right to education incorporates the provision of safe schools. [Para 32]

This Court in Ashoka Kumar Thakur's case (supra) observed as under:

"It has become necessary that the Government set a realistic target within which it must fully implement Article 21A regarding free and compulsory education for the entire country. The Government should suitably revise budget allocations for education. The priorities have to be set correctly.

The most important fundamental right may be Article 21A, which, in the larger interest of the nation, must be fully implemented. Without Article 21A, the other fundamental rights are effectively rendered meaningless. Education stands above other rights, as one's ability to enforce one's fundamental rights flows from one's education. This is ultimately why the judiciary must oversee Government spending on free and compulsory education." [Para 33]

In view of the importance of Article 21A, it is imperative that the education which is provided to children in the primary schools should be in the environment of safety. [Para 34]

Duty of State:

The State is duty bound to protect and secure lives of students across the country by ensuring the minimum safety standards. The State is liable to promulgate policies, which ensure the implementation of the safety laws and procedures laid down. The State must ensure that the government-certified engineer visits each and every school at least once in two years and issued a ‘stability certificate’. If the building is found to be in good condition and all safety precautions are met. [Para 11]

There should be strict supervision on those engineers who can issue these kinds of certificates.

Current scenario:

It is alleged that most of the Indian private schools in district towns are dull, claustrophobic, cramped and often have derelict structures with no fire safety systems, playgrounds or libraries. Most of these private schools in the district towns are located in a warren of congested lanes and school authorities often lock the gates when classes are on to keep children from slipping out of the school. Most of the schools in the villages and small towns are still made of thatched roofs made from coconut leaves or other cheap and easily available materials to avoid the cost of construction in flagrant violation of the building laws. [Para 11]

Prayer:

It is prayed in the petition that a committee of jurists, legal experts and lawyers be constituted to formulate a comprehensive report in a time bound plan for carrying out reforms in the safety standards as prescribed in the schools and to direct all the schools to implement the plan, alternately to come forward with their own plan for providing safety measures in the schools. [Para 12]

Fundamental Rights violations:

It is further prayed that this Court should evolve model safety standards as a part of Article 21 and for free and fair exercise of fundamental rights under Articles 14, 15 and 19 of the Constitution of India. [Para 12]

Accountability:

In this petition, we are called upon to determine what, if any, safety standards schools should have and how, if at all, schools have not met those standards. [Para 13]

Standards for quality:

The National Building Code of India, 2005, promulgated by the Bureau of Indian Standards, provides detailed instructions on how to construct fire-safe buildings. Tables and drawings set standard for schools particularly, including number and type of fire extinguishers, quantity of water necessary for a proper fire suppression system, and many more, providing an engineer-tested, nationally applicable set of standards that our schools could follow. In the introductory materials for the Code, the Bureau of Indian Standards affirms the petitioner's claim in this case:

"The hazards of fire in educational building can be considerably lowered by adoption of certain predetermined fire safety measures with regard to proper planning of buildings, choice of proper materials and components, electrical equipments and making suitable provisions for fire detection and suppression system." [Para 14]

Respondents: who are duty bound?

This Court issued notice to the Union of India, State Governments and the Union Territories. Replies and counter affidavits have been received from almost all the State Governments and the Union Territories and also the Union of India. This Court appointed Mr. Colin Gonsalves, learned Senior Advocate as Amicus Curiae. He also suggested some guidelines which need to be followed by all schools in the country. [Para 15]

27 States and Territories have filed affidavits in this Court detailing the current safety of their schools and plans for improvement The States admit that many schools do not meet self-determined safety standards, let alone the more rigorous standards of the National Building Code. The affidavits generally focus on plans for improvement, rather than schools' current conditions, because much work remains. [Para 16]

Where States have provided detailed counts of schools and installed safety features, it emerges that thousands of schools lack any fire suppression equipment. Thousands more schools do not have adequate emergency egress or non-inflammable roofs. Unfortunately, most States failed to provide any quantitative data in their affidavits. [Para 16]

Instead these States filed vague plans for future renovations and piecemeal schemes to improve schools safety. Little technical advice informs some of the plans, and few have any admitted force of law or fail-safe or follow-up mechanism from the State Government. [Para 16]

While we applaud States' efforts to improve schools, we find that States have done too little, too late. With the guidance of the National Building Code and affidavits in this case, we view Mr. Gonsalves's brief as crystallizing a minimum set of safety standards for schools. By their own admission, States have not met these standards and they have welcomed this Court's guidance in achieving improvement. We will consider in more detail the exact standards required and relief sought later in this view. It is clearly borne out from the affidavits filed by the respondents that even the basic fire extinguishing equipments have not been installed in most of the schools. Majority of the schools do not have emergency exits. The schools must realize and properly comprehend the importance of the fire safety equipments, but unfortunately most of the schools do not have fire extinguishing equipments and consequently, the schools are not following the minimum safety standards prescribed by the Building Code, the Bureau of Indian Standards. [Para 17]

Despite best intentions and frequent agreements, these codes and safety standards rarely bind builders in law or practice. State or local governments must enact Building Codes before any may have the force of law. Some Building Codes exist in law, but few states or municipalities have enacted a standard as rigorous as the National Building Code. [Para 18]

Weak enforcement often then moots the enacted code's effectiveness, no matter the Code's intent, whether fire safety officials, routinely speak to the need for meaningful standards with real enforcement. [Para 18]

In the petition, the petitioner does not seek damages or court's finding on culpability. The main intention of filing this petition is to protect against similar future tragedies by improving the conditions of the schools in our country. [Para 19]

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Article published on youthejournalist.com

Medical Education in India: Totally a bad scenario
( MUKESH YADAV )
( Saturday, August 30, 2008 )
The rapid privatization of medical education in India and mushrooming of private medical colleges confirms the claim of many middle-class Indian - the main sufferer – that this trend creates two classes of patient i.e. rich patients and poor patients.
Lifestyle
How long should we wait for Justice?
( MUKESH YADAV )
( Wednesday, September 03, 2008 )
This article is related to the problem of unrecognised medical degrees (MD/MS/Diplomas)awarded by the many Government Medical Colleges across India.
Other
Exploitation of Medical Teachers in India
( MUKESH YADAV )
( Saturday, September 13, 2008 )
This article is about the exploitation of medical teaching faculty by the management of private medical college. Medical Council of India has to introspect about its intention and objectives of the Medical Council of India Act, 1965.
Other
Acute shortage of faculty in Govt. Medical Colleges
( MUKESH YADAV )
( Saturday, September 27, 2008 )
In this article is presenting grim picture of acute shortage of medical faculty in Govt. Medical Colleges in U.P., supposed to be models for Private Medical College.
Other
Quality of medical education in Delhi on decline
( MUKESH YADAV )
( Monday, October 20, 2008 )
This article is related to the quality of medical education in government medical college of India's Capital i.e. Delhi, exposing the insensitivty of the government authorities.
Lifestyle
Landmark judgment of SC to improve quality of education
( MUKESH YADAV )
( Tuesday, February 17, 2009 )
Hon'ble Apex Court of India, delivered a landmark judgement on February 13, 2009, related to educational institution falling under the ambit of Consumer Protection Act. These observations will help improve the quality of education in India.
Other
Privatization of medical education showing its ugly face
( MUKESH YADAV )
( Wednesday, April 01, 2009 )
Privatization of medical education in India has started showing its ugly face. This article is an attempt to show the current deplorable scenario in MP, India.

Privatization of medical education showing its ugly face

Privatization of medical education showing its ugly face

Posted : Wednesday, April 01, 2009 By : MUKESH YADAV
Mushrooming of private medical colleges in India and acute shortage of medical faculty along with huge profit motive on the part of private management leads to ruin quality of medical education in India. Recently Hon’ble M.P. High Court (Jabalpur Bench) came to rescue operation by giving direction to MCI in its order dated December 19TH 2008, in a PIL (Arvind Kumar Mishra Vs. Union of India & Ors. in WP No. 10263/2008).
The Hon’ble HC Observed:
“……..The petitioner has alleged in this writ petition that the private Medical and Dental Colleges in the State of Madhya Pradesh do not have the required faculty members on their permanent rolls. We direct that the Medical Council of India, the respondent No.1 and the Dental Council of India, the respondent No. 3 will carry out the inspection of all the private medical and dental Colleges in the State of Madhya Pradesh and report this Court whether the teaching staff has been permanently employed by the private Medical and Dental Colleges in the State of Madhya Pradesh, or such teaching staff has only been shown in the rolls of these Colleges for purposes of permission or recognition. Court has given directions for the inspection to be carried out by the MCI and report be submitted by 05.01.2009”.
To verify the teaching faculty, residents and clinical material - Pursuant to order of Hon'ble M.P. High Court MCI conducted Inspection on 2nd January, 2009, of four private medical colleges viz.: People’s College of Medical Sciences & Research, Bhanpur, Bhopal, Index Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Indore, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore, Ruxmaniben Deepchand Gardi Medical College, Ujjain.
To the utter surprise for all of us the shortage of teaching faculty was 61.2% (i.e. 79 out of 129) and that of Residents were 65% (i.e. 49 out of 76) at Index Medical College Hospital & Research Centre, Indore.
Clinical material was grossly inadequate as reported by the MCI inspectors. On the day of Inspection: O.P.D. attendance was 129 in place of average 800 per day and Bed occupancy was 26.7% as against 80% as per MCI norms Minimum Requirements.
Other interesting observations of MCI Inspectors were:
On actual verification and as per ward census, bed occupancy was found to be 26.7% on the day of inspection.
There were no patients in casualty, Paediatrics ICU & NICU on the day of inspection.
There was no delivery/LSCS on the day of inspection.
The admission/discharge registers were found to be incomplete.
There were no entries in Surgery admission register after 29.12.2008, in Ortho register after 30.12.08, in Peadiatrics register after 2.1.09 and the Medicine registers were not available.
In most of the wards, approximately 50% of the admissions were done on the day of inspection.
In all major departments, patients who were admitted did not warrant hospitalization.
In most of the case sheets, there were no OPD slips, no IPD registration number and history sheets were not written. Only treatment notes were found to be written.
Fake faculty:
It was found that the 4 doctors presented as Tutors in Pharmacology were not doctors. However, they signed the declaration certificate that they were working full time in Index hospital. On questioning, they also certified that they are not doctors. However, the Dean did not submit the declaration forms and refused to countersign on the aforesaid declaration certificate. It was signed by the other two Inspectors who were also present at the time of head count. Their names are: Mr. Jeetendra Tiwari, Mr.Pradeep Solanki, Mr.Om Prakash Prajapati, Mr.Sandeep Thakur.
Dr.Kolpe Dayanand Vasant Rao, had presented himself as Asstt. Prof., Forensic Medicine. However, on questioning, he failed to give satisfactory reply pertaining to his qualifications. On further questioning, he admitted that he is not a doctor who had signed the declaration form and was countersigned by the Dean and three Inspectors. Thus he has submitted a false declaration form with relevant enclosures which is countersigned by the Dean.
Recently, The Tribune, a leading news paper from Punjab in its editorial dated March 7, 2009 has reported “the shocking revelation that some Punjab government doctors have been engaging in scandalous moonlighting in private medical institutes deserves severe condemnation. A Tribune investigation lists half-a-dozen government doctors simultaneously figuring on the rolls of private medical colleges in southern India which they have been visiting for monetary benefit during mandatory head count inspections by the Medical Council of India, an apex body entrusted with maintaining uniform standards of medical education in the country”.
The Editorial further added that “the figure of six doctors is more likely to be suggestive of many more doctors engaged in a similar exercise from just not only Punjab but perhaps from other states as well. This corruption by manipulation and moonlighting is the latest by government doctors, many of whom are since long known to engage in unethical activities of private practice and of taking commissions from private diagnostic laboratories and private clinics for referrals”.
Regarding the stand of MCI it mentioned that “Even more strange is the display of indifference by the MCI, which has ruled out any action saying that they accept at face value a written list of doctors submitted by the medical colleges who are privy to the racket. The MCI seems to overlook the fact that only last year they had threatened to de-recognise the three government medical colleges in Punjab partly because of similar manipulation of manpower after 23 faculty members from Amritsar and Fardikot were detected of being posted to the Government Rajindra Hospital in Patiala on the date of inspection and then reverted to their parent institutions when they faced similar inspection a month later”.
If timely actions by all concerned authorities including common man and parents of students studying in these medical colleges are not taken right to quality of heath care in India may be a distant dream for all of us. Many cases related to infrastructural deficiencies are pending in the various high courts of the country and even in the Apex Court of India, waiting for their fate of fighting for a right cause till date.
We have only hope from the higher judiciary, to come forward for these public sprit health rights activist to protect most cherished fundamental right i.e. Right to life and quality of health care. Media one of the important pillars of democracy can also play its much awaited leading role in exposing these illegal and unethical practices on the part of doctors and private management.

Unrecognized Medical Degree / Diploma; Employment, Promotion

Unrecognized Medical Degree / Diploma; Employment, Promotion
A Review of Indian Court’s Judgments
Dr. Mukesh Yadav, B. Sc., M.B.B.S., M.D., LL.B., PGDHR
Prof. & HOD, Forensic Medicine
Muzaffarnagar Medical College, Muzaffarnagar, U.P.
Email: drmukesh65@yahoo.co.in
Abstract
Medical education is the subject matter of both Union and State Governments and Medical Council of India is the sole supervising body of medical education and maintaining its standard. Problem of recognition of medical degrees / diplomas is prevalent in almost all the States of India and in most of the medical specialties. Holders of unrecognized degree / diploma may face problem of employment / promotion, etc. thus leading to many litigations either decided or pending in the Indian Courts.
This paper deals with review of this problem, brief discussion of relevant court decisions, Government Orders and MCI notifications, etc. thus help in solving this problem to great extent by making concerned persons aware about the issue and to take initiative to solve the problem of very much public interest.
Key Words: Unrecognized Medical Degree / Diploma, Employment, Promotion, Medical Council of India, Court.
Introduction:
The problem of recognition of degree / diploma and employment is not new issue as apparent from various courts’ decisions and other relevant documents of Government and Medical Council of India. Since medical education is still in infancy in India as private medical colleges are mushrooming and as India is a developing economy many problems are bound to arise. This problem is prevailing in many States of India like Jammu & Kashmir, Himanchal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, U.P., Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Delhi etc.
Author himself had received an interview call from the PGIMER, Chandigarh, for the post of Assistant Professor scheduled to be held on 06-12-2005, and concerned authority has asked for certificate from MCI in this regard as a condition to appear before the interview board. Similar is the position with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), New Delhi, which asks for letter of recognition of degree issued by the MCI before they allow appearing for the interview.
In a very interesting case in which a doctor holder of M.D. (Pathology) awarded by M.L.B. Medical College, which is not recognized by the MCI. He was given appointment as Senior Lecturer at G.M.C. Medical College, Chandigarh on adhoc basis and continues his job for more than five years till he received a call of interview for the same post on permanent basis through UPSC, New Delhi. But unfortunately his candidature was rejected by the UPSC, after allowing him to appear for the interview.
In an another more interesting case from Allahabad, U.P., one doctor holder of Diploma Cardiology from G.S.V.M. Medical College, which is not recognized by the MCI, faced criminal charges and remain in prison for few months not under section 304-A, but under charges of ‘culpable homicide not amounting to murder for the death of one of his serious patient, for no fault of him, but to hold unrecognized diploma awarded by a Government Medical College of U.P.
Problem of employment / promotion and possession of unrecognized degree / diploma:
“For the fault of the University, the students cannot be made to suffer. Since they have acquired qualification, degree in M.D. (Pathology and Microbiology) should be amended as the Schedule to Act of 1956, does not recognize the degree in M.D. (Pathology and Microbiology)”; [R-9]
“Where the Post-graduate course was started by the Ranchi University with the consent of Medical Council of India and the State of Bihar had recognized such degree imparted by the Ranchi University, held, it could not be contended that degree obtained after pursuing said course was of no value as the same had not been recognized so far by the Medical Council of India”, [R-8]
Judges, J.S. Khehar and Rajiv Bhalla of Punjab and Haryana High Court while delivering judgment on the issue of recognition of degree and problem of promotion on 09-02-2005.
“The fourth contention of the learned counsel (page No. 20-23) for the respondent is that the petitioner has no locus standi to impugn the selection and promotion of respondent No. 3 Dr. S.S. Sangwan to the post of Dean (Medical) as the petitioner himself is ineligible for appointment by promotion to the aforesaid post under the 1988 Rules. In this behalf, the petitioner acquired the qualification of M.D. (Forensic Medicine) from the Medical College, Rohtak, and that he was awarded the aforesaid Postgraduate Degree, by the Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak. In this behalf, it is pointed out, that the qualification of M.D. (Forensic Medicine) awarded by the Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, has not been recognized by the Medical Council of India. It is, therefore, asserted that the petitioner does not even fulfil the basic qualifications for the post of Dean (Medical). [Page No. 21-23]
So far as the fourth contention advanced on behalf of the respondent is concerned, reference will have to be made to the qualifications prescribed for appointment to the post of the Dean (Medical), in Appendix ‘B’ of the 1988 Rules (details wherof have already been extracted above). The essential minimum qualifications for appointment to the post of Dean (Medical) comprise of three essential ingredients. Firstly, a basic University qualification included in the schedule to the Indian Medical Counsel Act, 1956, Secondly, M.D./M.S. or equivalent Postgraduate qualification, and thirdly, five years teaching experience as Professor (Medical). The fact that the petitioner possesses the first and third essential eligibility conditions is not disputed. The only issue which arises for determination is, whether the qualification of M.D. (Forensic Medicine) acquired by the petitioner in 1980 satisfies the second requirement in Appendix ‘B’ of the 1988 Rules, noticed above. In our view, the qualification of M.D. (Forensic Medicine) possessed by the petitioner has to be accepted as relevant qualification for satisfying the second requirement. Our aforesaid conclusion is based on firstly, on the fact that the qualification of M.D. / M.S. or equivalent postgraduate depicted as an essential qualification for appointment to the post of Dean (Medical), is a requirement in the verbatim, even for appointment to the post of Professor (Medical). The petitioner was appointed as Professor in the Institute of Medical Sciences as far back as on 1-06-1981. at the aforesaid juncture, the qualification possessed by the petitioner, was considered to be sufficient for appointment to the post of Professor. It is not open to the respondent at this juncture to assert, that the same postgraduate qualification, which was accepted to determine the eligibility of the petitioner for appointment to the post of Professor, is not acceptable for determining his eligibility for promotion to the post of Dean (Medical). Secondly, while Appendix ‘B’ of the 1988 Rules expressly indicates, that the basic University qualification possessed by an incumbent must be one of the qualifications included in the schedule to the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, there is no such prescription / requirement in so far as the M.D. / M.S. qualification is concerned. It is, therefore, misconceived for the respondents to assert, that only such M.D. / M.S. qualifications are to be considered as valid for the purposes of eligibility as have been recognized by the Medical Council of India. Thirdly, the petitioner acquired the qualification of M.D. (Forensic Medicine) from the Medical College, Rohtak i.e. the very institute, wherein he is claiming appointment by promotion to the post of Dean (Medical). It is difficult to accept, that the respondent would not accept the postgraduate qualification acquired from the institute itself, as a valid postgraduate qualification for appointment to the post of Dean (Medical). In fact, it would be pertinent to mention, that the official respondents in the instant writ petition did not dispute the eligibility of the petitioner for appointment by promotion to the post of Dean (Medical). The instant objection was raised only at the hands of respondent No. 3. In view of the deliberations recorded above, it is not possible for us to accept even the fourth contention (advanced by the learned counsel representing respondent No. 3) [Page No. 23]
Since the procedure adopted while short listing respondent No. 3 for appointment by promotion to the post of Dean (Medical), was in clear violation of the mandate of Rules 9 (2) of the 1988 Rules, we are satisfied, that the selection and promotion of respondent No. 3 Dr. S.S. Sangwan to the post of Dean (Medical), deserves to be set aside. The same is, accordingly, be immediately relieved from the post of Dean (Medical). [Page No. 26]
The respondent shall reconvene the process of appointment by promotion to the post of Dean (Medical) forthwith. The entire deliberations shall be completed within one month from today, by following the principle of seniority-cum-merit, envisaged under Rule 9(2) of the 1988 Rules. [Page No. 26] writ is disposed of in the aforesaid terms. [Page No. 26] [R-1]

The problem of recognition of degree and employment is not new issue as apparent from this letter: Letter written by the Secretary, U.P., Sri G.K. Joshi, to all Heads of Departments and Principal, Heads of Offices, Niukti (Kha), Vibhag. The contents of letter are as follows:
“Subject: Recognition of the degrees and diplomas awarded by the Universities established by law in India for purposes of recruitment to services under the State Government.
Sir,
I am directed to say that the question of recognition of the degree / diploma awarded by the Universities as established by law in India for purposes of recruitment to services and posts under the State Government has been under their consideration for some time past. In the light of the decision taken by the Government of India and in consultation with the Lok Seva Ayog, Uttar Pradesh [UPPSC] it has been decided that in the case of degree / diploma awarded by Universities in India which are incorporated by an Act of the Central or State Legislature, no formal orders recognizing such degrees / diplomas need be issued by Government. Such degrees / diplomas should be recognized automatically for purposes of employment under the State Government. [R-2]
In a case from Rajasthan Court observed that “--Rajasthan University Ordinance – Ordinance 65 (vii) – Post-graduate medical degree granted by a University duly established by statute in this country which has also recognized by the Indian Medical Council – Ipso facto to be regarded, accepted and treated as valid throughout our country – In absence of any express provision to the country, such a degree does not require to be specifically recognized by other Universities in any State in country before it can be accepted as a valid qualification for the purpose of appointment to any post in such a State be accepted as a valid qualification for the purpose of appointment to any post in such a State. [R-7]
Bench of Justices A.D. Koshal, J., R.B. Mishra,J., V. Balakrishnana Eradi. The judgment of the Court was delivered by Eradi, J.
On March 3, 1972, the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (for short, ‘the Commission’) issued advertisements inviting applications for the recruitment of two Lecturers in Forensic Medicine for Medical College, Medical & Public Health Department in accordance with the Rules. [Para 5]
The appellant had, by then, obtained the M.D. degree in Forensic Medicine from the University of Bihar, Muzaffarpur in1970 and had been functioning as Lecturer in Forensic Medicine in one of the Government Medical Colleges in Rajasthan on a temporary and adhoc basis from December 31, 1970 onwards. [Para 6]
In response to the aforesaid advertisement published by the Commission, the appellant applied for appointment to one of the posts. However, by the impugned letter (Annexure IV) dated July 21, 1973, issued by the Secretary of the Commission, the appellant was informed that his application for the post of Lecturers in Forensic Medicine was rejected since he did not possess the necessary academic qualification. A representation made by the appellant to the Public Service Commission for reconsideration of the matter did not meet with any favourable response and hence the appellant approached the High Court by filing the writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution out of which this appeal has arisen. During the pendency of the writ petition, the Commission conducted the interview of the remaining candidates and selected respondents 3 and 4 for appointment to the two posts and on the basis of the said selection the State Government appointed respondents 3 and 4 as Lecturers. The appellant thereupon amended the writ or direction canceling the interview and selection conducted by the Commission as well as the consequential appointments given by the State Government to respondents 3 and 4 as Lecturers in Forensic Medicine. [Para 7]
The appellant is admittedly the holder of the basic degree of M.B.B.S. from the Rajasthan University, which is a qualification entered in the First Schedule to the Indian Medical Council Act. It is also not in dispute that he is duly registered under the Medical Registration Act. The sole ground on which the appellant was treated by the Commission as ineligible for consideration was that the post-graduate degree in Forensic Medicine possessed by the appellant is not one awarded by the University of Rajasthan and the said degree has also not been recognized by the University of Rajasthan as an equivalent qualification. [Para 10]
The University of Bihar at Muzzafarpur is one duly established by statute and is fully competent to conduct examinations and award degrees. The degree of Doctor of Medicine (Forensic Medicine) M.D. (Forensic Medicine) of The University of Bihar is included in the Schedule to the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 as a degree fully recognized by the Indian Medical Council which is the parmount professional body set up by statute with authority to recognize the medical qualifications granted by any University or Medical Institution in India. [Para 11]
The conclusion that emerges from the aforesaid dissuasion is that the appellant was fully qualified for being considered for appointment to the two posts of Lecturer in Forensic Medicine advertised by the Commission on November 16, 1972, and that the Commission acted illegally in treating the appellant as not being possessed of the requisite academic qualification and excluding him from consideration on the said ground. [Para 13]
Accordingly, we allow this appeal, set aside the judgment of the Division Bench of the High Court and restore the judgment of the Single Judge, subject to the modification that in carrying out the directions contained in the judgment of the learned Single Judge, the Commission should treat the appellant as a fully qualified candidate in the light of the finding recorded by us that at the relevant time the appellant possessed not merely the prescribed academic qualification but also the requisite experience of two year’s medicolegal work. The appellant will get his costs throughout from respondents 1 and 2 in equal shares. [Para 14] [R-7]
A Bench of Justices N.M. Kasliwal, J. and M.M. Punchi, J. delivered the judgment on April 26, 1991. [R-8]
The controversy has been raised before us that the M. Ch. Degree course in Neuro Surgery awarded by Rajendra Medical College, Ranch University is not yet recognized for the purpose of Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and a letter of Medical Council of India dated 27-02-1991 has been placed on record in this regard. Learned counsel for the respondent No. 5 has tried to contend that M. Ch. degree obtained by the appellant was of no value, as the same has not been recognized so far by the Medical Council of India. We find no force in this contention, as this course was started by the Ranch University in 1980 with the consent of the Medical Council of India and the State of Bihar has recognized such degree imparted by the Ranchi University and even before this Court learned counsel appearing for the State of Bihar accepted this position. We are not concerned in this case about the value of such degree for places outside State of Bihar, but so far the present case is concerned which relates to the post of Assistant Professor in Patna Medical College and Hospital, Patna which post is under the Bihar Government, no such objection can be maintained by the Resondent No. 5. [R-8]
“Though the High Court on one stage held that a candidate for Assistant Professor in Neuro Surgery must have a postgraduate degree in Neuro Surgery and having held that the degree of Neuro Surgery of the appellant was recognized and valid, yet committed a serious error in giving preference to respondent No. 5, which was having a degree of M.S. in General Surgery over the appellant who was holding much higher degree of M. Ch. in Superspecialty in Neuro Surgery itself. The High Court further committed an error in holding that clauses 2 & 3 of the advertisement did not evolve any distinction of specialty, parent specialty and superspecialty. A mere perusal of the said clauses would show that clauses 2 © and 3© does talk of parent specialty and superspecialty. The finding of the High Court in this regard was clearly erroneous. Clause 3 (c) carved out an exception in favour of superspecialty vis-à-vis experience and, therefore, clause 3 clearly speaks about superspecialty. The High Court in our view committed a further error in not appreciating clause 19 in its correct perspective. Clause 19 envisaged that preference would be given to a person who had a degree in superspecialty along with research or working experience. Thus the appellant having a degree in superspecialty and also having preference in the matter of appointment to the post of Assistant Professor in Neuro Surgery over respondent No. 5 who did not have a degree in superspecialty”. [R-8]
“The State Government has also taken a clear stand that there was an acute shortage of qualified Neuro Surgeons in the State and therefore, the Government had provided certain relaxations and priorities in the criteria for appointment to junior teaching posts in various Medical Colleges of Bihar, so that such candidates could be appointed. The appellant had been given preference by virtue of his having M. Ch. Degree in Neuro Surgery with research work and working experience. The State Government has further stated that appellant is qualified Neuro Surgeon and has been rightly appointed as Assistant Professor of Neuro Surgery vide Notification No. 1144 (17) dated 28-12-1990 and the appellant joined the said post on 28-12-1990 itself”. [R-8]
Thus taking in view the entire scheme of the degree and the relevant clauses of the advertisement, we are clearly of the view that appellant was rightly put in the Select Panel at NO. 1 and the Government of Bihar rightly appointed him on the post of Assistant Professor of Neuro Surgery.
In the result, we allows the appeals, setting aside the order of the High Court of Patna dated 10-12-1990 and dismiss the writ petition filed by Dr. Chandra Mohan Jha, Respondent No. 5. In the facts and circumstances of the case, there would be no order as to cost. [R-8]
Most important case of Supreme Court on this issue is that of 1999 [R-6], judgment delivered by a Bench of Chief Justice of India M.M. Punchhi, and his companion Judges K.T. Thomas and D.P. Wadhwa, JJ.
Constitution of India, Arts. 226, 254 – Education – Admission – Medical College – Admission Capacity – Fixation – can be done only by Medical Council – State Government and Universities cannot increase admission capacity.
Medical Council Act, 1956 (Act 102 of 1956), Ss. 10-A, 10-B, 33.
Karnataka Education Institutional (Prohibition of Capitation Fees) Act (1984), S. 4.
Karnataka State Universities Act, 1976 (Act 28 of 1976), S. 53 (10).
Dentists Act, 1948 (Act 16 of 1948), S. 10-A.
It is the Medical Council / Dental Council which can prescribe the number of students to be admitted in medical courses / dental courses in a medical college or institution. It is the Central Government, alone which can direct increase in the number of admissions but only on the recommendation of the Medical Council. Universities and the State Government of Karnataka had no authority to allow increase in the number of admissions in the medical colleges in the State. No medical college can admit any student in excess of its admission capacity fixed by the Medical council subject to any increase thereof as approved by the Central Government and that Sections 10-A, 10-B and 10-C will prevail over Section 53(10) of the State Universities Act and Section 41 (b) of the State Government Capitation Fee Act. To say that the number of students as permitted by the State Government and or University before June 1, 1992 could continue would be allowing an illegality to perpetuate for all time to come. [Par 31, 32]
It is not that only future admissions will have to be regulated on the basis of capacity fixed by or determined by the Medical Council. Plea of the State Government that power to regulate admission to medical college is prerogative of the State has to be rejected.
It is the Medical Council, which is primarily responsible for fixing standards of medical education and over seeing that these standards are maintained. It is the Medical Council, which is the principal body to lay down conditions for recognition of medical colleges, which would include the fixing of intake for admission to a medical college. The Medical Council Act is reliable to Entry 66 of List 1 of Schedule 7 to Constitution.
(B) Medical Council Act, 1956 (Act 102 of 1956), S. 33 – Regulations framed under – Falling within the purpose mentioned in Section 33 – will have mandatory force.
Recent Developments:
The Hon’ble Chief Justice Ajay Nath Ray and his companion Judge Jagdish Bhalla, of Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court, while delivering interim order in a case [R-5] on April 20, 2005 said
This is a Public Interest Litigation (Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India) filed by the writ-petitioners, which described themselves as Doctors.
They are final year students of M.B.B.S. Course at B.R.D. Medical College, Gorakhpur. The main substance of the writ petition is that the Post Graduate courses of the said Medical College have been substantially de-recognized by the Medical Council of India but this fact notwithstanding, admissions are going on in these Colleges and the Post Graduate Medical Courses even now. We are informed from the Bar that counseling is on from this day, i.e. today with regard to such Post Graduate Medical Courses.
Some other Colleges are also named in the petition like Maharani Laxmi Bai Medical College, Jhansi and S.N. Medical College Agra. As for as we have been able to gather today, these colleges are not legal personalities and are not Bodies Corporate, these are basically State instrumentalities. The State also appears to have issued directives to at least the B.R.D. medical College, Gorakhpur, not to admit students and not to recognize students to Post Graduate Courses.
The writ-petition is directed towards making the recognition available again to these colleges by increasing the teaching staff, making the Laboratories better equipped, and such like.
We are told that a writ petition has also been filed in the Delhi High Court (since the Medical Council is in Delhi) and that in the said writ, orders have been passed calling for reports and for bettering of facilities and that the matter is due to be heard again on the 28th of this month (28-04-2005).
So far as the admissions to unrecognized medical seats are concerned, we have, although prima facie, a very strong view. The Medical Council is the over all supervisor of Medical Education in India. Whether an institution is fit to admit students for the purpose of study ultimately with the aim of receiving medical degrees from that institution, is a matter, which is in the sole decision of Medical Council. If the Medical Council de-recognizes institutions, courses or seats, then and in that event it means that those institutions, those courses or those seats, as the case might be, are not fit for producing qualified doctors of that level or that mentality, specialty.
In such an event, it is the job of every public authority in India to see to it that these deficient institutions do not admit students or grant them degree which would have inbuilt and hidden incapacity and inadequacy and which would forever in future be of definite danger to the citizen of India at large.
Just as an unqualified man practicing medicine is a threat to public health, so also is a half qualified or badly qualified person is a similar danger to the public. If anything the danger in the second case is more. Thus, a degree from an unrecognized institution, course or seat is a misrepresentation. It is a misrepresentation of a permanent nature which is likely to mislead many and unknowing patient.
In these circumstances we admit the writ petition. The writ petitioners are directed to score out doctors from their description in the cause title. They are directed to implead the Medical College concerned by impleading those through their Principal; the present incumbent in office to be served in that regard but the impleading to be made by the office itself.
Until further orders of the Court the respondents, their servants, officers and agents, the respective colleges including B.R.D. Medical College, Gorakhpur, and their Principles, Professors, employees and servants are restrained from taking any steps towards any fresh admission of any medical student to any course or seat which is not at the time of admission recognized by the Medical Council of India.
Petition is to be served on all the added parties. Affidavit would be called for from them after service is completed and the matter will appear in the person 1st respondent, 2 and 3 are represented today before us by Mr. Sanjay Bhasin. The other respondents already on record should also be served, if not already served. The matter should appear in the last four weeks hence. The appearing respondents might keep their affidavits ready after the orders and under directions would be passed on the next date when the court takes of the matter. The impleadment shall be made as above of the Medical Colleges through the Principal or it added that it should also be served of the Medical University through the Registrar of the University state might require.
It is clarified that if the Medical Council grants recognition the restriction against impressed by our order would automatically be lifted as the restriction order themselves clarify. Case is still pending and final decision is awaited till date.
Letter written by the Director Medical Education, U.P. [R-3] introduced to Principals of Medical Colleges Kanpur, Agra, Allahabad, Meerut, Jhanshi, Gorakhpur and Registrar King Gorge Medical University on the subject of ‘Recognition of Postgraduate Medical Education’ asking principal’s to take appropriate action as per MCI norms to get Postgraduate degree recognized, and to fulfill deficiencies pointed out by the MCI during previous inspections and inform the MCI of action taken in this regard.
The MCI Letter written by the Secretary MCI [R-4] introduced to the Secretary (Health), Govt. of U.P. on the same subject mentions that
“I am directed to inform you that various postgraduate medical courses are being run in the medical colleges in your State which are yet to be approved / recognized u/s 11 (2) of the IMC Act, 1956. (List enclosed)
You are requested to direct the authorities of the medical colleges to approach the Registrar of the University to which the Medical College is affiliated to forward its formal request through the Central Government as required u/s 11 (2) of the IMC Act, 1956 for arranging for the inspection by the Medical Council of India at the time of practical examination of respective PG Courses.
In addition you are requested to direct the college authorities to send compliance regarding the deficiencies pointed out by the Council in respect of the postgraduate courses which have yet not been recommended for recognition for further necessary action in the matter”. [R-4]
Summary and Conclusions:
Responsibilities should be fixed on concerned authorities for not getting recognized medical degrees / diplomas in time and raising the problem out of control. No initiative was taken by the faculty members due to reasons best known to them. It might be for the reason of insecurity for themselves or no awareness about the procedure of recognition by the MCI. It might be due to bureaucratic or technocratic insensitivity about the issue of public interest.
This problem of non-Recognition of degrees/diplomas results in unnecessary litigations in various courts, denial of job to many degree holders, not receipt of call for interview by UPSC, New Delhi, and even not allowed to appear in interviews like by PGIMER, Chandigarh, and mental harassment of candidates, etc.
Over and above when one go into the background of this problem it is very easy to make out that this problem is the result of insensitive authorities on this issue and not fulfillment of Minimum Standard Requirement Criteria fixed by the MCI and directly related to quality of medical education and denial of right to health care (under Article 21 of Indian Constitution) of general public.
It is a very important issue of public interest related to violation of Article 21, 14, 16 of the Indian Constitution and other statutory provisions. This problem of non-recognized degrees / diplomas awarded by many Indian Universities is in violation of the Indian Medical Degree Act, 1916, the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, and its Regulations, etc.
Now MCI may suo motu may recognize these degrees / diplomas and apply the 1993 rules afresh while inspecting and allowing permission for admission to these courses without affecting the rights of those already possessed these degrees/ diplomas.
References:
R-1-Dr. D.R. Yadav vs. State of Haryana & Others, Civil Writ Petition No. 8561 of 2003; Date of Decision 09-02-2005 (P & H).
R-2-Government Order No. 722/II-B-13 [1] –61 Dated 15-05-1964 regarding Degree, Diploma Recognition published in the Gazette Part II, Page No. 27 at Serial No. 6.
R-3- Director Medical Education, U.P. Letter No. ME/ Student Cell/ 2007/ 3225-26, dated 31-05-2007
R-4- Letter of MCI No. MCI-23(1)/ 2006-Med./ 4163, dated 19-05-2007 introduced to Secretary, Health, U.P Government.
R-5-Dr. Om Prakash & Others vs. State of U.P., Writ Petition No. 1563 (M/B) of 2005 in the Hon’ble High Court of Judicature at Allahabad, Lucknow Bench, Lucknow, date of interim order, 20-04-2005.
R-6- Medical Council of India vs. State of Karnatka and Others, AIR 1998 Supreme Court 2423. Civil Appeal Nos. 3275 with 3576-77 of 1998 (arising out of S.L.P. ( C) Nos. 14839 of 1997 with 20035 of 1997 and 547 of 1998), D/-16-07-1998. W.A. No. 8413 of 1996, dated 16-07-1997 (Kant.) GP/GP/S100261/98/VVG/CSL.
R-7-Dr. B.L. Asawa vs. State of Rajasthan and Others, Civil Appeal No. 303 of 1976 (Appeal by special leave from the Judgment and Order dated October 30, 1974 of the Rajasthan High Court in D.B. Civil Appeal No. 247 of 1974), decided on March 5, 1982.
R-8-Dr. Arun Kumar Agarwal v. State of Bihar & Others, A.I.R. 1991 S.C. 1514; J.T. (1991) 2 S.C. 352.
R-9-Dr. Harish Bajaj v. R.D.V. Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, AIR 2003 MP 114.