In the MP nursing college scam case, the Madhya Pradesh High Court said, “We forgive murders, because they are often crimes of passion but these are premeditated offences,” and announced daily hearings from July 3 after shocking visuals showed the poor state of nursing institutions.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court announced that it will hold daily hearings starting July 3, emphasizing the seriousness of what it termed a “sensitive issue in the health sector.”
A division bench comprising Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice DK Paliwal issued this order earlier this week, designating the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Vishal Baghel as the primary case.
The scam is currently under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
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During the proceedings, Justice Sreedharan appeared visibly disturbed by the evidence presented, which included photographs and order sheets highlighting the poor condition of several colleges.
In one instance, a single building displayed signage for an engineering, B.Ed., and nursing college, all interchanged at random. Some colleges appeared to exist solely on plastic signs, lacking any real infrastructure.
The judge exclaimed,
“Oh my god… Has the court seen these photos before? What is happening?”
He stated,
“There should be capital punishment for people doing this. We forgive murders because they are often crimes of passion, but these are premeditated offences.”
The bench remarked that the scam reflects a profound failure within the system and poses a significant threat to the future of healthcare in the state.
It criticized officials from the Indian Nursing Council and the Madhya Pradesh Nursing Council for their ongoing non-compliance. Despite 48 hearings and 96 exemptions, essential documents have yet to be submitted.
The judges cautioned that such deliberate obstruction would be viewed as “interference in the judicial process.”
The court had previously expressed dissatisfaction over the continued absence of council representatives.
Petitioner Vishal Baghel alleged that officials are actively undermining the investigation and protecting those involved in fraudulent institutions.
Since the CBI took over, the number of recognized nursing colleges in the state has fallen from over 600 to about 200, raising alarming concerns about the regulatory oversight that previously allowed these institutions to operate.
Justice Sreedharan warned,
“This case isn’t just about education; it’s about the collapse of healthcare standards in our country. We are heading towards destruction,”