Hyderabad: The Telangana high court on Wednesday directed the National Medical Commission (NMC) to consider the appeal filed by the Warangal-based Father Colombo Institute of Medical Sciences for renewal of permission to operate during the 2025-26 academic year.The NMC had denied the institution’s letter of permission (LOP) citing deficiencies in mandatory requirements related to tutors, residents, and OP admissions, along with a CBI case registered in July this year. The case pertained to allegations that the institution bribed independent assessors to cover up these deficiencies. While hearing the appeal, a division bench of Justices Abhinand Kumar Shavili and Vakiti Ramakrishna Reddy referred to the Supreme Court’s directions in Madhuri Sewa Nyas versus the Union of India. The bench also noted that the NMC had granted conditional permissions to two other Telangana medical colleges—Dr Patnam Mahender Institute of Medical Sciences and CMR Institute of Medical Sciences—that faced similar deficiencies. The court directed the institution to file its appeal within three days and instructed the NMC to consider it “in accordance with the law and issue appropriate orders within ten days from the date of receiving the appeal.” The bench also clarified that the appeal must be “considered on merits without being influenced by the order or observations made by the single judge,” who had earlier declined to grant relief and reportedly made adverse remarks against the institution. Appellants’ counsel Prakash Reddy submitted that “mere registration of an FIR is not a valid or satisfactory ground for denying renewal,” citing the Supreme Court’s observation. He further argued that NMC’s approach amounted to “selective treatment,” as permissions were granted to other institutions facing similar allegations. The bench recorded the submissions and questioned the NMC on why it handled similar cases differently. In response, NMC’s counsel Poojitha Reddy contended that “there are glaring deficiencies in the institution, and despite several opportunities, they were not rectified. Moreover, they tried to bribe assessors during inspection, leading to an FIR with serious allegations.” Relying on applicable regulations, including the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023, the bench disposed of the matter while ensuring the appeal would be considered fairly.
