Supreme Court Fines 10 Dental Colleges ₹10 Crore Each for Admission Violations

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court has imposed a ₹10 crore fine on each of 10 private dental colleges in Rajasthan due to serious irregularities in their admissions process.

The court, comprising Justices Vijay Bishnoi and J K Maheshwari, expressed strong disapproval of the blatant illegality and willful violation of admission rules by these institutions, emphasizing that such actions warranted strict punitive measures.

Additionally, the court directed the Rajasthan state government to deposit ₹10 lakh with the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority for its failure to follow legal procedures during the BDS admissions for the 2016-17 academic year.

The Supreme Court's ruling came after discovering significant irregularities in the admissions process, where the state government unlawfully reduced the NEET percentile by 10% and another 5%, allowing students who did not meet the minimum eligibility criteria established by the Dental Council of India to gain admission.

Moreover, it was found that some colleges admitted students beyond the permitted 15% relaxation. The court's judgment on December 18 provided relief to those students by regularizing their BDS degrees, invoking its plenary power under Article 143 of the Constitution to ensure justice.

Rishabh Sancheti, representing 59 students in the lead petition, noted that the Supreme Court mandated students who received relief to file affidavits before the Rajasthan High Court, offering pro bono services during state emergencies.

The court criticized the colleges for violating the 2007 regulations by admitting students beyond the allowed percentile, while the state government's unauthorized relaxations and its failure to communicate decisions effectively were also condemned.

In its remarks, the court stated, "We express our displeasure at how the standards of medical education have been undermined in this case." The heavy penalties are seen as a step towards ensuring better adherence to legal and procedural norms in future admissions.

The court has ordered that the fines be deposited with the RSLSA within eight weeks, with plans for the funds to support social institutions in the state, including One Stop Centres, Nari Niketans, old age homes, and childcare facilities.