Recognition Suspended: Bhopal Private Nursing Colleges to move HC against Nursing Council

Bhopal: Upset with the Madhya Pradesh Nursing Council's decision of suspending their recognition, the Private Nursing Colleges in Bhopal are planning to approach the High Court against it.

While the Council cancelled their recognition, the colleges are alleging that even though the Council had all the relevant documents, it did not produce them in the High Court, when the bench was considering a plea against discrepancies in the nursing colleges.

Apart from the colleges approaching the High Court, recently the National Students Union of India (NSUI) staged a demonstration at the state office of MP Nursing Council as the association pointed out that such a move by the Council had put the careers of hundreds of nursing students at stake.

This comes after recently the Madhya Pradesh Government suspended the recognition of 93 nursing colleges after they came under the scanner of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh.

While 16 of these colleges are in Indore, there are a total number of eight such colleges in Bhopal, and seven in Jabalpur among others, PTI had recently reported.

MP Nursing Council took such a decision while the MP High Court was considering a plea that alleged lack of infrastructure in some of the nursing colleges. In fact, the plea had also alleged that several nursing colleges were running only on paper on the basis of fake documents.

Also Read: SC stays MP HC order to form panel comprising non-medical professionals to inspect 272 nursing colleges

In case of Bhopal, the list eight medical colleges that faced the wrath of the Nursing Council includes LN Nursing College, Chirayu Nursing College, Kasturba, Kushabhau Thackeray Nursing College, AISECT among others.

As per the latest media report by Free Press Journal, the council on May 10 had sought information from the colleges through e-mail. Even though the colleges had been instructed to submit required documents including photographs of buildings, hostels, labs and among others nothing had been done in this regard.

Therefore, the Council cited the order of the High Court in respect of a Public Interest Litigation, where the HC had directed the Council for conducting physical verification of all colleges and review infrastructure, staff and other important facilities. Citing the order, the Council suspended the recognition of 93 Nursing colleges for one year.

While the Nursing Council is claiming that the colleges did not submit the documents, the colleges have been refuting such claims. While commenting on the matter, the Director of Chirayu Medical College, Dr. Ajay Goenka told the daily, "All the documents are with MP Nursing Council but it still did not produce them in the High Court which was listening to a petition against discrepancies in nursing colleges. For the last 12 years, our nursing college has been recognized. Every year, even the Indian Medical Council (IMC) conducts inspections on our campus. Despite recognition for the last 12 years, the Nursing Council suspended our recognition, taking us by surprise. Surely, we are going to challenge the Council's decision in court."

Last month, taking stringent action against nursing colleges operating without adhering to the prescribed norms, the Gwallior bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court had directed the State and the Nursing Council to shut down 70 such bogus Nursing Colleges belonging to Gwalior-Chambal region.

Also Read: High Court directs State to close 70 Bogus Nursing Colleges