SC rejects ICARE's plea to reverse MCI decision to debar college

Kolkata: The Supreme Court has turned down the appeal of the Indian Centre for Advancement of Research and Education, Haldia (ICARE), for admitting candidates in MBBS courses after the Medical Council of India (MCI) derecognised the college for lack of infrastructure.

As a result of this, the future of medical students who were studying MBBS in various stages are hanging in balance as they would not get any valid registration from the MCI. Even those who were doing their interns after completing their MBBS courses are not sure if they would get the permission to treat patients.

MCI earlier derecognised the college and cautioned students not to take admission in this medical college. ICARE Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, situated at Haldia run by an NGO associated with expelled CPI(M) MP, Laxman Seth, was not given permission to admit candidates for undergraduate medical courses.

The students who were pursuing medical courses in this medical college expressed their concern over their future as the MCI derecognised the medical college. They also urged both the state government and the Centre to take some steps in this regard. Like other students, these candidates had started the medical studies after clearing the state level medical joint entrance examination and secured their seats in this private medical college.

It may be mentioned that this medical college needed to take permission from the MCI every year but after going through the infrastructure, the MCI decided to debar the medical college from admitting candidates. The MCI did not allow the private medical college to admit students as a deficiency of faculty and shortage of resident doctors were found. Bed occupancy was only 8 percent on the day of assessment which was grossly inadequate. Many wards were closed while the OPD attendance was only 250 on day of assessment which was also inadequate.

Casualty attendance was only 9 on the day of assessment. No Casualty Medical Officer was also present on the day of the assessment, as said by the MCI. There was no major and minor operations and no delivery on day of assessment. Radiological & Laboratory investigation workload was inadequate too. Separate register for laboratory investigation was not there in the hospital. ICUs and ICCU beds were not available too. There were many other deficiencies in this private hospital apart from the mentioned.

ICARE authorities appealed to the Supreme Court challenging the decision of the MCI. But the Apex court also turned down their appeal and ordered not to admit candidates in MBBS course.