SC imposes ₹10 crore penalty on Rajasthan dental colleges for admission violations

The Supreme Court of India has levied heavy financial penalties on private dental colleges in Rajasthan after finding widespread violations in undergraduate dental admissions that undermined prescribed eligibility norms.

In a ruling delivered on Dec 18, the apex court ordered 10 private dental colleges to pay ₹10 crore each for irregularities in Bachelor of Dental Surgery admissions during the 2016–17 academic year.

A bench of Justices Vijay Bishnoi and J K Maheshwari described the violations as a serious breach of law and said standards of medical education had been compromised.

The court also held the Rajasthan government accountable for its role in the process and directed it to deposit ₹10 lakh with the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority for failing to adhere to mandatory admission procedures.

The judgment noted that the state government had reduced the minimum NEET percentile for BDS admissions by 10% and later by another 5% without statutory approval.

This relaxation enabled candidates who did not meet the eligibility criteria laid down by the Dental Council of India to secure admission, while some colleges admitted students even beyond the relaxed threshold.

“We are constrained to record our displeasure at how the standards of medical education have been compromised,” the bench said, adding that the conduct of the institutions amounted to willful noncompliance warranting strict penalties.

At the same time, the court extended relief to students admitted in that academic year by validating their degrees, exercising its constitutional powers to do complete justice.

The bench clarified that protecting students would not absolve institutions or authorities of responsibility.

Rishabh Sancheti, counsel for 59 students in the lead petition, said those granted relief have been directed to file affidavits before the Rajasthan High Court.

Under the court’s directions, the students will commit to providing pro bono services to the state during public emergencies such as natural disasters, disease outbreaks, or similar crises.

The Supreme Court also criticized the state for granting unauthorized relaxations and for failing to promptly communicate decisions taken by the central government and the Dental Council of India, observing that the 2007 admission regulations were openly violated.

The penal amounts imposed on the dental colleges must be deposited with the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority within eight weeks.

The court said the funds should be used for social welfare initiatives across the state, including One Stop Centres, Nari Niketans, old age homes, and child care institutions.