Medical college with tea seller as Chairman allegedly operating from farmhouse in UP! SC directs UGC, regulators to warn public against unverified institutes

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has taken note of a fake medical college in Uttar Pradesh, allegedly operated from a dilapidated farmhouse.

A man working as a tea seller, with no education, was reportedly listed as the chairman of the institute and reportedly admitted to routinely signing documents handed to him by the person allegedly running the establishment.

Taking note of this, a top court bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and N.V. Anjaria issued directions to the University Grants Commission (UGC) and all regulatory authorities to issue public advisories warning people against taking admission to, or dealing with, educational institutes without verifying their authenticity first.

"A suggestion has come from Mr. K.M. Nataraj, learned ASG, that the UGC, having come to know of such activity happening on the ground, may issue an advisory to all authorities/institutions, and especially to the public at large, not to take admission in or deal with institutions without first verifying the authenticity of such institutions," ordered the top court bench.

"We find the suggestion to be useful, and accordingly, a direction is issued to the UGC and all the regulatory authorities to issue such public advisory to act accordingly," it further directed.

Also Read: Health officials seal fake medical college at Olapalayam for offering courses without recognition

Further, the Apex Court bench has directed the Union Government to monitor compliance with the directions issued by the regulatory authorities.

These directions were issued by the Supreme Court during the hearing of a case concerning the functioning of educational institutions, including schools, colleges, and universities in the country in the context of a nationwide expansion. The matter came up out of a matter relating to Noida-based Amity University.

According to a Live Law report, the Apex Court bench took note of a newspaper report concerning a purported fake medical college operating from a farmhouse in Mahmoodpur Nagaria village in the Etah district of Uttar Pradesh. The bench took note of the material on record, claiming that the institute allegedly offered courses such as D.Pharma, B.Pharma, B.Sc. Nursing, DMLT, BMLT, BAMS, GNM and ANM

The bench took note of the allegation that the institute was functioning from an old, dilapidated structure consisting of two or three rooms in the middle of a field. Further, the order recorded that the institute had no other structure visible nearby; the building was not properly maintained, and one Bhagwan Das Singh Baghel, described as an illiterate tea seller, was shown as the chairman of the institute.

"When questioned, [he] feigned ignorance about what was happening. However, he admitted that he regularly used to sign the College documents provided by Satender Kumar," noted the bench.

These facts were brought to the Apex Court's attention by former Indian Legal Service (ILS) officer RM Sharma, who is assisting the Court in the matter, HT has reported.

Allegedly, it was Kumar who was running the institute. Reportedly, the local police had initiated action against him and three other persons after the newspaper report was published; the Additional Solicitor General, K.M. Nataraj, informed the Court on behalf of the State of UP. Further, the bench was informed that an independent inquiry had also been ordered into the issue.

Taking note of this, the Court appreciated the quick response of the State of Uttar Pradesh.  The Court noted it to be significant for the UGC and all regulatory bodies so that the future guidelines can be issued by the UGC to prevent such issues.

"We find that the same was required and that the steps taken are in the public interest so that the entire fraud on society is exposed, and based on the said inquiry, future guidelines can be issued by the UGC and all the regulatory bodies to prevent such incidents," observed the bench.

However, the bench also directed the IGC to issue an advisory to authorities, institutions and the general public, warning them against dealing with educational institutions without first verifying their authenticity.

According to the HT report, even the Union Government, represented by ASG Archana Pathak Dave, informed the bench that the UGC has written to UP's additional chief secretary, who handles the affairs of the Higher Education Department, to look into the matter. The top court has directed the Centre to communicate its order to all regulatory bodies and monitor compliance with these directions.

The Apex Court bench took note of the issue of auditing private universities while considering a case filed by a student alleging that a private university harassed her when she sought to change her name in the university records.

Earlier, the bench had appointed Sharma to examine all affidavits filed by states and union territories and make recommendations. Last month, the Court had issued directions to all regulatory authorities such as the National Medical Commission, National Dental Commission, Indian Nursing Council, Commission for Allied and Healthcare Providers, Bar Council of India, Pharmacy Council, Veterinary Council, and National Commission for Indian System of Medicine, among others, asking them to furnish details of their inspection of colleges relating to affiliation along with database of the entire faculty and supporting staff.

Further, the Court had observed that no private university should run as an institute for profit but rather to serve the larger public purpose of education. It had also asked for audited accounts from every private university in the country to ascertain how they used their surplus income, the amounts paid to the employees, and the fees collected from the students under various heads.

The Court's direction was not limited to finance, as it also directed the universities to provide information regarding their admission procedure, recruitment process, actual work performed by teachers in the last year, and other details. These details will have be sent to the respective states and union territories, which will file affidavits in the top court in six weeks.

Besides, the Court also focused on the admission procedure and the academic quality imparted in these universities, seeking details of the person responsible for admissions, the setting of question papers, the evaluation of answer sheets, and the role of management in these functions. Further, the order required details of the past year's teaching hours assigned to teachers and the actual classes they taught.

Also Read: Fake Medical College Advertisement: 37-year-old man held for duping job aspirants