Court raps Pondy medical college for violating orders

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M Sundar, before whom the contempt plea moved by Dr K Brinda came up on Friday, said, “The fact remains that there was a clear unequivocal interim order directing the authorities which includes the college authorities to keep a seat vacant in the category of MS (General Surgery) for the academic year 2017-18.” 

“The authorities shall forthwith admit the petitioner Dr K Brinda to the MS Course in General Surgery on condition of deposit of an ad-hoc amount of Rs 10 lakh as per the interim order dated June 16 and report the compliance to the Court on July 26,” the bench said. 

As per the case, Brinda had obtained admission for MS (General Surgery) in Arupadai Veedu Medical College (AVMC) in Puducherry, through counselling for 2017-18. 

A single judge on May 17 had also directed CENTAC and AVMC to keep a seat vacant in the said category of MS (General Surgery). In the meanwhile, the first bench passed an interim order on a PIL on June 16, to admit students by taking an ad-hoc fees of Rs10 lakh. 

During the hearing, the government pleader informed the court that Brinda was admitted in MS Ophthalmology. But, Brinda countered it saying till date she was not allotted MS (General Surgery) course and as such the statement is a false one made with deliberate intention. 

However, the bench on setting aside the submission of the college that since Dr Brinda failed to deposit the entire fees within May 31 the seat was offered to some other candidate, said, “We are informed that the fee then demanded by the college is Rs 40 lakh. 

The act of filling up the seat is a nullity in the eye of law, the same being patently in violation of the order of this court.”