“I am directed to state that with the increasing or consistent trend observed over a period of nearly 4 months of gross deficiencies as shown above, the minimum required infrastructural, teaching and other facilities are not fulfilled even for 50 admissions,” said the letter from MCI secretary Lt Col (retd) Dr A R N Setalvad to the Ministry.

However, the Ministry permitted Index Medical College to admit 150 MBBS students and Rohilkhand Medical College to admit 100 MBBS students as an inspection by the Central team — a day after the MCI inspection report — showed that adequate facilities were available for the renewal of permission.

It’s significant that the Central team from Safdarjung Hospital, which falls under the Health Ministry, was directed to inspect the two colleges on the same day that the MCI submitted its report denying permission.

As per an October 2003 order of the Supreme Court of India, the MCI is the only authority to recommend increase of student strength or renewal of permission for a medical college. That order had directed the Central government “not to grant any further permission without following the procedure prescribed under the Indian Medical Council Act.”