[Hospital admitting fake patients] Have you seen Munnabhai MBBS? Supreme Court to medical college

The Supreme Court on Monday made some strong observations against a private medical college accused of falsifying records to reflect inflated patient intake [National Medical Commission v. Chudaman Patil Memorial Medical College]..A Bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud observed how the allegations seemed to be straight out of the Hindi movie Munnabhai MBBS. "This is a case where in a paediatric ward, all children were admitted without any problems. Have you seen the Munnabhai MBBS movie, counsel ? How did the hospital have fake patients ? Illness does not end on Makar Sankranti. This is a case of falsifying records Mr Singhvi," Justice Chandrachud told Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was appearing for the college..The Bench, which also comprised Justice Surya Kant, was hearing an appeal filed by National Medical Commission (NMC) against a Bombay High Court judgment which had allowed re-inspection of Annasaheb Chudaman Patil Memorial Medical College after the increased intake of medical students was cancelled by NMC. The college had applied for increasing its intake from 100 to 150 students for the MBBS course. It had submitted a letter of undertaking, after which the intake was increased. However, on January 14, 2022, a surprise inspection was conducted based on which the NMC withdrew the permission for the increase in intake. This was challenged before the High Court, which gave an option to the medical college to either go for re-inspection or avail appellate remedy. The college opted for the former. The High Court order was challenged by the NMC before the Supreme Court on the ground that it was passed without noticing the provisions of the NMC Act. The college was also aggrieved that the inspection was not conducted properly and there was gross negligence during the same. .The Court, after hearing the parties, set aside the High Court order and restored the matter before the High Court to be heard and decided afresh."Medical College says there cannot be any dispute about the original complement of 100 seats. High Court has not dealt with submission by rival parties and thus we cannot intervene under Article 136. We set aside the impugned orders of High Court and restore the plea before High Court," the Court said.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for NMC. Dr Singhvi and Senior Advocate Nidhesh Gupta appeared for the medical college.