
Notices affixed by Telangana Health department on the gate of Nightingale College of Nursing in Hyderabad’s Humanyun Nagar.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
A major nursing education scandal has been exposed in Hyderabad after the Telangana Health department officially revoked the permission for the Nightingale School of Nursing, an unregistered institution in Hyderabad’s Humayun Nagar. The institution has been accused of deceiving students and operating without essential facilities. The institution faced closure following complaints from students, social activists and an official investigation.
Allegations of fraud
The scandal came to light in February 2025 when 69 students, primarily from SC, ST and BC backgrounds, alleged that the nursing school had withheld their original educational certificates. Students reported that despite paying substantial fees, they received neither proper classes nor did the institution have infrastructure such as laboratory and hostel facilities. The situation escalated when one student took her life in July 2024, underscoring the distress faced by many, said a representation submitted to the Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari by social activist Lubna Sarwath.
Efforts to seek redressal from government authorities initially met with bureaucratic delays. Students claimed that the administration of Nightingale School of Nursing demanded additional payments for the return of their certificates. Lubna Sarwath highlighted the students’ plight and urged authorities to take swift action. The affected students also appealed to the government for relocation to accredited institutions to prevent the loss of an academic year. However, despite their repeated pleas, the Principal Secretary of Health, Medical and Family Welfare (HM&FW) did not provide a definitive timeline for their transfer. With General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) exams scheduled between July and September, students feared irreversible damage to their careers, Ms. Sarwath said.
Serious violations
The Telangana Nurses and Midwives Council (TGNMC) launched an inquiry into the complaint, uncovering serious violations at the Nightingale School of Nursing. The investigation revealed a severe lack of faculty, inadequate clinical training, substandard hostel conditions and exorbitant fees. Additionally, the institution falsely claimed accreditation by the Indian Nursing Council (INC) and TGNMC, despite having been off the official list of accredited institutions for over eight years.
In response, on March 7, the Telangana health department issued a Government Order (G.O) officially revoking Nightingale School of Nursing’s operational status. The order, issued by Health Secretary Christina Z. Chongthu, cited multiple violations, including failure to maintain educational standards, mistreatment of students and financial exploitation. The government also directed the Director of Medical Education (DME) to relocate the affected students to other accredited institutions within 15 days to ensure they could continue their studies without disruption. The GO said that the college was accorded permission in 2000 sanctioning an intake of 60 students per year.
Shortly after, Director of Medical Education A. Narendra Kumar issued a statement informing students that the government had cancelled the school’s recognition and assured that measures were being taken to accommodate them in alternative institutions.
Awaiting resolution
“The DME has been directed to submit alternative plans to relocate affected students within 15 days to ensure their academic year is not wasted. We have already submitted a list of 69 students based on information obtained from students and parents to the DME, TGNMC and the health department. However, authorities must act urgently to retrieve the students’ original certificates from the fraudulent institution and finalize new college placements,” said Ms. Sarwath.
Published – March 15, 2025 07:45 pm is