The Supreme Court has taken note of a purported fake medical college in Uttar Pradesh allegedly operating from a dilapidated farmhouse, where an illiterate tea seller was shown as the institution's chairman and reportedly admitted to regularly signing documents provided by the person running it.

A Bench of Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice N.V. Anjaria directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) and all regulatory authorities to issue public advisories cautioning people against taking admission to, or dealing with, educational institutions without first verifying their authenticity.

The Court also directed the Union Government to monitor compliance with the directions by the regulatory authorities.

“A suggestion has come from Mr. K.M. Nataraj, learned ASG, that the UGC, having come to know of such activity happening on the ground, may issue an advisory to all authorities/institutions, and especially to the public at large, not to take admission in or deal with institutions without first verifying the authenticity of such institutions.”, the Court said, after finding the suggestion to be useful and accordingly, a direction was issued to the UGC and all the regulatory authorities to issue such public advisory to act accordingly.

"We find the suggestion to be useful and accordingly, a direction is issued to the UGC and all the regulatory authorities to issue such public advisory to act accordingly.", the Court said.

The bench was continuing to hear a case concerning the functioning of educational institutions, including schools, colleges and universities in the country, after it was given a nationwide expansion, arising out of a matter relating to Amity University, Noida.

The Court took note of a newspaper report in The Indian Express concerning a purported fake medical college operating from a farmhouse in Mahmoodpur Nagaria village in Uttar Pradesh's Etah district.

According to the material placed before the Court, the institution purportedly offered courses including D.Pharma, B.Pharma, B.Sc. Nursing, DMLT, BMLT, BAMS, GNM and ANM.

The Court observed that the institution appeared to be functioning from an old, dilapidated structure consisting of two or three rooms in the middle of a field, with no other structure visible nearby. The building was also not properly maintained.

The order recorded that one Bhagwan Das Singh Baghel, described as an illiterate tea seller, had been shown as the chairman of the institution.

“When questioned, [he] feigned ignorance about what was happening. However, he admitted that he regularly used to sign the College documents provided by Satender Kumar,” the Court noted.

Satender Kumar was stated to be running the institution. The local police had reportedly initiated action against him and three other persons following the newspaper report, the Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj informed the Court on behalf of the State of UP.

The Court appreciated the quick response of the State of UP, after also being informed that an independent inquiry had been ordered into the issue, which the Court terms to be significant for the UGC and all the regulatory bodies so that the future guidelines can be issued by the UGC to prevent such issues. However, directed the UGC to issue an advisory to authorities, institutions and the general public, cautioning them against dealing with educational institutions without first verifying their authenticity.

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