Why No Action Against Singhania University Despite NMC's Complaint? HC Seeks response from Raj Govt

Jaipur: The Rajasthan High Court single judge bench recently took cognisance of the State Government's failure to take action against Jhunjhunu's Singhania University, which is offering MBBS admission despite not having the required approval from the National Medical Commission (NMC), the Apex Medical Education Regulatory Body in India.

Further, the single-judge bench of HC comprising Justice Sameer Jain on Monday asked the Additional Chief Secretary of the State Higher Education Department to appear before it on Tuesday and explain why action was taken against the institute i.e. Singhania University even after a complaint was filed in this regard by the NMC.

The HC bench issued this order while considering the pleas of the students who obtained MBBS degrees from Singhania University.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that taking note of the unpermitted MBBS and other medical courses being offered by Singhania University last year, NMC had issued an alert warning medical aspirants about the varsity's mischievous claim.

The Commission issued the warning after an advertisement published by Singhania University, Pacheri Bari, Distt. Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, inviting applications for MBBS and other medical courses.

Also Read: NMC warns against illegal MBBS and other medical courses at Singhania University

As per the latest media report by the Times of India, during the hearing of the plea by the MBBS students at Singhania University, NMC submitted before the HC that they had informed the State Government in time that Singhania University was not allowed to run an MBBS course and that enrolments to the course should have been closed.

UGC submitted that they allowed the University to run other courses, including B.Ed, but not an MBBS course. After taking note of the submissions by NMC and UGC, the HC bench directed the ACS Higher Education to appear before the Court and explain the situation.

Commenting on the matter, Sunil Kumar Singodia, associated with the case, informed TOI that the petitioners appeared in NEET 2016-2017 exam and were declared eligible. He added, "At this time, Singhania University issued an advertisement and sought applications for admission to the MBBS course."

Back in 2022 also, Singhania University published an advertisement in various newspapers claiming that the High Court in the case of IGNOU had held that there was no provision in the Indian Medical Council Act which authorises and empowers BoG-MCI to grant permission or recognition to IGNOU to enable it to take admission and impart education in MBBS and other medical courses.

Referring to this, NMC had clarified that the varsity mischievously claimed that it was covered by a judgment of the High Court without referring to the cause title and Hon'ble Court that has pronounced it. Such a claim was frivolous, and baseless and was made in complete violation of the law made by the Parliament, the Commission had earlier clarified.

"It may be noted that the claim so made by the Singhania University is in violation of the provisions of the India Medical Council Act, 1956 and also NMC Act, 2019 and the Regulations framed there under. Accordingly, any admissions that are made by the Singhania University, Pacheri Bari, Distt. Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan in the courses of medicine (MBBS) is illegal and void ab initio," NMC had mentioned.