The Supreme Court has declined to interfere with a common judgment passed by the Gujarat High Court in a batch of appeals concerning admissions in Ayurvedic colleges. However, taking note of the “larger issue concerning illegal admissions affecting the future of students,” the Court has ordered a further inquiry into the conduct of six Ayurvedic colleges accused of unlawfully continuing students beyond permissible limits.
A Bench comprising Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice Vijay Bishnoi while hearing Special Leave Petitions challenging the Gujarat High Court’s decision dated 29 September 2023.
While refusing to set aside the High Court judgment, the Bench observed that the allegations regarding illegal admissions warranted closer scrutiny. Accordingly, the Court issued notice to six colleges Ananya College of Ayurved, Kalol; Bhargava Ayurved College, Dahemi; Indian Institute of Ayurved, Rajkot; B.G. Garaiya Ayurved College, Rajkot; Global Institute of Ayurved, Rajkot; and Jay Jalaram Ayurvedic Medical College, Shivpuri directing them to explain their conduct.
The Supreme Court directed the colleges concerned to file detailed affidavits setting out the circumstances under which students were illegally allowed to continue in the 3rd, 4th and 5th years of their respective courses. The Court emphasised that such practices have serious implications for academic standards as well as students’ careers.
In addition, the Bench ordered the Gujarat Ayurved University and the Central Council of Indian Medicine to constitute a Joint Committee to conduct a detailed inquiry into the matter. The Committee has been authorised to call for information from students and seek documents from the colleges. The Court further directed both students and institutions to extend full cooperation to the Committee during the inquiry process.
The matter has been listed for further hearing after four weeks, with the Court expected to review the affidavits filed by the colleges and the inquiry report submitted by the Joint Committee
Appearances:
For Petitioner(s): Mr. Niranjan Reddy, Sr. Adv.; Mr. Shailesh Madiyal, Sr. Adv.; Mr. Pradhuman Gohil, Adv.; Mrs. Taruna Singh Gohil, AOR; Mr. Alapati Sahithya Krishna, Adv.; Ms. Hetvi Ketan Patel, Adv.; Mr. Rushabh N. Kapadia, Adv.; Ms. Taniya Bansal, Adv.; Ms. Kawalpreet Kaur, Adv.; Mr. Pulkit Khanduja, Adv.
For the Respondent(s): Ms. Aishwarya Bhati, A.S.G. (NP); Mr. Sudarshan Lamba, AOR; Ms. Shivika Mehra, Adv.; Mr. Anirudh Bhatt, Adv.; Mr. Santosh Kr., Adv.; Mr. Ishaan Sharma, Adv.; Mr. Gaurang Bhushan, Adv.; Mr. Gobind Kumar, Adv.; Mr. Rajbahadur Yadav, Aor, Adv. Ms. Ankita Chaudhary, AOR; Mr. Avnish Dave, Adv.
Mr. Parmod Kumar Vishnoi, Adv.; Mr. Shreyas Balaji, Adv.; Mr. Chand Kapoor, Adv.
Mrs. Manisha T. Karia, Sr. Adv.; Mr. Rohan Trivedi, Adv.; Mr. Deepin Deepak Sahni, Adv.; Mr. Vishal Navale, Adv.; Ms. Shreya Gupta, Adv.; Ms. Ananya Arora, Adv.
Mr. Varun Khetwani, Adv.; Mr. Anandh K., Adv.; Mr. Ang Bajaj, Adv.; Mr. Anirudh Kate, Adv.; Ms. Iyer Shruti Gopal, AOR; Mr. Nikhil Goel, Sr. Adv.; Mr. Ashutosh Ghade, AOR
Mr. Adithya Koshy Roy, Adv.; Ms. Riddhi Jain, Adv
