D.Y.CHANDRACHUD,J. - (1.) By an order dated 31 May 2017, the Union government has debarred the petitioner from admitting 150 students for the MBBS course during academic years 2017-18 and 2018-19. Besides challenging the order of debarment, the petitioner seeks a mandamus for the grant of recognition under Section 11 of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 ('IMC Act' ). In consequence, the petitioner also seeks a direction to permit it to participate in the process of counselling for admission to the MBBS degree programme for the ensuing academic year. Since a bank guarantee of L 2 crores furnished by the petitioner is to be invoked in pursuance of the impugned decision, relief against encashment of the guarantee has been sought.
(2.) The petitioner was granted recognition in 2011-12 to conduct the MBBS degree course with an intake of 150 students. The petitioner college is affiliated to Dr M G R Medical University. The petitioner was granted renewal of permission to admit fresh batches of MBBS students during the academic years 2012-13 and 2013-14. The petitioner has not admitted students during 2014-15 and 2015-16. For the purpose of admitting students in 2016-17, assessment of the physical infrastructure and teaching facilities was carried out under Section 11(2) of the IMC Act on 18/19 March 2016. The assessment reports were considered by the Executive Committee of the Medical Council of India ('MCI') which noted the existence of as many as 39 deficiencies. Among the deficiencies noted were the following : "1. Deficiency of faculty is 52.2% as detailed in the report. 2. Shortage of Residents is 91.7 % as detailed in the report. ....... 4. Bed occupancy is 54.76% on day of assessment." ........ 25. Students' Hostels : Available accommodation is 365 against requirement of 563. It is not properly furnished, Toilet facilities are inadequate. Visitors' room, A.C. Study room with Computer and Internet and Recreation room are not available. Hygiene is poor, Mess is not available. ....... 27. Residents' Hostels : Available accommodation is 20 + 2 flats against requirement of 85. It is not properly furnished. Toilet facilities are inadequate. Visitors' room, A.C. Study room with Computer and Internet and Recreation room are not available. Hygiene is poor. Mess is not available. 28. Nurses' Hostel : It is not properly furnished. Toilet facilities are inadequate. Visitors' room, A.C.Study room with Computer and Internet and Recreation room are not available. Hygiene is poor..." Having regard to the above deficiencies, the Executive Committee decided to recommend to the Union government not to grant recognition to the petitioner for the award of the MBBS degree. This decision was communicated to the Union government on 22 March 2016. The college was called upon to rectify the deficiencies within two weeks. The college submitted its compliance on 4 April 2016. This was verified in an assessment conducted on 22 April 2016.
(3.) The team of assessors informed MCI that the petitioner had resisted inspection on the ground that most of the residential and faculty were on leave after the holiday for Mahavir Jayanti. According to the petitioner, the assessment was in violation of the regulations which prohibit inspection within two days before or after a religious or festival holiday declared by the Central/State government. It has been stated on behalf of MCI that the public holiday was on 19 April 2016 and hence the assessment of 22 April 2016 could not have been denied, under Regulation 8(3)(1) (d) of the Establishment of Medical Colleges Regulations, 1999.;