Supreme Court Paves Way for Master of Dental Surgery Degree, Quashes Admission Cancellation.
04 December 2024
Civil Appeals >> Civil & Consumer Law | Education >> Miscellaneous
This appeal of Irfan Akbani & Others vs The State of Madhya Pradesh & Others concerns the appellants, who completed their Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) from different states and subsequently sought admission to the Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) program in Madhya Pradesh. Their admissions were canceled by the Regulatory Authority for not participating in the counseling process and violating a previous court order. The Appellate Authority upheld the cancellation, but the appellants sought relief in the High Court, which allowed them to continue their studies under an interim order. After completing their MDS course, the High Court dismissed their petition, affirming the earlier decisions.
The appellants, represented by senior counsel, challenged the High Court's decision in the Supreme Court. The opposing counsel argued that the appellants had violated admission norms. However, the Court observed that similarly situated students, who completed their BDS in Madhya Pradesh, were allowed to continue without their admissions being canceled. The Court criticized the approach of the Regulatory and Appellate Authorities, stating that the number of violations should not be the sole basis for discrimination.
The Court further noted the importance of dental specialists and the wastefulness of the appellants’ education if their MDS degree was not regularized. In light of the peculiar circumstances, the Supreme Court allowed the appeal, quashed the previous orders, and directed the regularization of the appellants' admissions and the issuance of their degrees. The Court clarified that this decision was based on the specific facts of the case and would not set a precedent for other cases.