How did nursing colleges deemed 'unfit' by CBI get recognition? HC seeks response from Indian Nursing Council

Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed the Indian Nursing Council (INC) to clarify how nursing colleges deemed "unfit" by the CBI managed to secure recognition.

The high court has also directed to identify the authorities responsible for granting them. The directive came during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning the increasing number of "fake" nursing colleges in the state, especially in tribal regions. 

The PIL, filed by Vishal Baghel, President of the Law Students' Union, raised concerns about the operation of numerous unqualified nursing colleges across the state. A division bench comprising Justice Sanjay Dwivedi and Justice A.K. Paliwal instructed the INC to submit all records and documentation related to the approval of nursing colleges between 2018 and 2022. The court observed that several of these institutions, which had also been approved by the Madhya Pradesh Nursing Registration Council (MPNRC) and Madhya Pradesh Medical Education University in Jabalpur, were found lacking in infrastructure and faculty by the CBI during its investigation, as per the report by Times of India.

The petition highlighted how many of these institutions are functioning in tribal areas without fulfilling the necessary criteria, posing a serious threat to the quality of nursing education and healthcare delivery. Some students have also complained about not receiving enrolment numbers, prompting the court to seek a complete list of such affected students.

According to the daily, during the hearing on Friday, the high court dismissed a separate plea by the petitioner demanding an inquiry into the expenses incurred by the state government in contesting the case. The bench stated that both the MPNRC and the state’s Medical Education University are autonomous entities and have the right to appoint legal representation to defend their position.

In a previous hearing on March 30, the state government presented original documentation on the affiliations granted to various nursing colleges, including those identified as "fake," before the court. The court had earlier ordered a CBI investigation into the legitimacy of nursing colleges operating in the state. Following the inquiry, the CBI submitted its findings to the court, which are currently under review by a court-appointed committee. This committee has been tasked with evaluating the evidence and also considering the responses from institutions labeled as unfit by the CBI.