A fake medical college operating from a farmhouse in Uttar Pradesh has prompted the Supreme Court to direct the UGC and all regulators to warn students and the public before they take admission anywhere.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has taken note of a fake medical college allegedly run from an old structure in a field at Etah in Uttar Pradesh, and has directed the University Grants Commission (UGC) and all regulatory authorities to issue a public advisory cautioning students, institutions and the public to verify the authenticity of an institution before taking admission in it or dealing with it. The Court also directed the Union of India to monitor compliance [Ayesha Jain v. Amity University, Noida and Others].
A Bench of Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice N.V. Anjaria passed the order on October 9, 2026, on an interlocutory application filed by Dr. R.M. Sharma, the person nominated by the Court to assist it on the functioning of educational institutions.
The report that triggered the order
The application drew the Court’s attention to a newspaper report of September 1, 2026, which described an institution in Etah district operating from a farmhouse and offering courses such as B.Pharma, B.Sc. Nursing and BAMS. The Court recorded that the premises appeared to be an old structure of two or three rooms in a field. The man shown as the institution’s chairman, described as an illiterate tea seller, is stated to have admitted that he regularly signed college documents handed to him by one Satender Kumar.
Local police have acted against Satender Kumar and three others. These are allegations and no finding of guilt has been recorded. The Court expressed no view on the merits and the presumption of innocence applies to all those named.
What the State told the Court
Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj, appearing for the State of Uttar Pradesh, submitted that the police investigation is proceeding, will be taken to its logical conclusion and that the trial will be fast-tracked. The Court noted that the Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh has ordered an independent inquiry, which it found necessary, and appreciated the State’s prompt response.
The UGC letter and the advisory
Counsel for the UGC had written to the Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education, Uttar Pradesh, and the Court took the letter on record. The ASG then suggested that a public advisory be issued. The Court accepted the suggestion and held:
“a direction is issued to the UGC and all the regulatory authorities to issue such public advisory to act accordingly.”
Union to monitor compliance
The Court directed the ASG appearing for the Union of India to communicate the order to all regulatory bodies, and added:
“The Union of India is also directed to monitor that these directions are duly complied with”
Child Safety Monitoring Committee
The Court did not deal with a sealed cover report filed by Dr. Sharma on the Child Safety Monitoring Committee, which was transferred to it from the Delhi High Court, and directed that the report be resealed and kept on record. Dr. Sharma was authorised to reconstitute the Committee with four members in addition to the Chairman. The matter will next be heard on November 19, 2026.
Why the order matters
The Amity University case has grown into a nationwide supervisory exercise on how schools, colleges and universities function. This order shows how that exercise is now reaching individual rogue institutions: an unverified claim of recognition can sit behind a courses list that looks real to a prospective student.
By ordering a public advisory from every regulator, and making the Union responsible for monitoring compliance, the Court has moved the burden of warning students from after-the-fact police action to a standing duty on regulators. The criminal case against those named remains at the investigation stage.
Case Title: Ayesha Jain v. Amity University, Noida and Others [W.P. (C) No. 531/2025, IA No. 296269/2026]
Bench: Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice N.V. Anjaria, Supreme Court of India
Date of Order: October 9, 2026
Appearances: Dr. R.M. Sharma (court-nominated assistant); K.M. Nataraj, ASG, for the State of Uttar Pradesh; Archana Pathak Dave, ASG, for the Union of India; Dr. N. Visakamurthy, AoR, for the UGC; Charu Mathur, AoR, for the petitioner