Authority: Supreme Court of India

Order Date: 16-09-2026

Case Overview

  • Parties: petitioner – College of Physician and Surgeon (CPS) House; respondents – Suhas Hari Pingle & others. The petition is a Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s).13079‑13081/2025 arising from the impugned final judgment and order dated 24‑Mar‑2025 in PIL(L) No. 12834/2024, WP No. 2703/2023 and WPL No. 24270/2024 passed by the Bombay High Court.
  • Prior Court Direction: The Supreme Court’s order dated 13‑Nov‑2025 classified the students into three categories and noted that the interests of Category I students were protected, Category II admissions were illegal, and Category III students had completed their courses.
  • Category Definitions (as per 13‑Nov‑2025 order):
  • Category‑I: Students enrolled in any of the ten qualifications (6 FCPS, 3 Diploma, 1 MCPS) up to academic year 2022‑2023.
  • Category‑II: Students enrolled in the same ten qualifications in academic year 2023‑2024 and thereafter.
  • Category‑III: Students enrolled in courses other than the ten qualifications in academic years 2017‑2018, 2018‑2019, etc.
  • Numbers Reported: Approximately 852 students in Category I, 239 in Category II, and 57 in Category III.
  • New Development – Category IV: The Court identified an additional group of 962 students (Category IV) who have completed their courses and are awaiting examination.
  • Regulatory Context: The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) issued a letter dated 19‑Jul‑2024 prohibiting CPS from admitting students for AY 2023‑2024; despite this, CPS admitted 239 Category‑II students, an act described as illegal. Earlier, MoHFW’s letter dated 18‑Oct‑2022 had regularised qualifications for 466 students admitted between 17‑Jan‑2017 and 22‑Jan‑2018.
  • Court Directions:

1. CPS must provide a complete, correct list of all students in Categories I, II, III and IV by the next hearing.

2. The list is to be filed on 18‑Dec‑2025.

3. Once the list is placed before the Court, it will be published and made public.

4. All 962 Category IV students shall be permitted to appear in the examinations as scheduled by the appropriate authority; the authority will fix the examination programme.

5. No fresh admissions to the petitioner college/course shall be allowed until the final judgment is pronounced.

6. The permission for Category IV students to sit for exams stands even if the National Medical Commission (NMC) or the Union of India objects.

7. The main matter is slated for a final hearing on 23‑Sep‑2026.

Final Outcome

  • The Supreme Court ordered that the 962 Category IV students be allowed to sit for their final examinations, with the examination schedule to be determined by the concerned authority.
  • CPS is directed to submit the comprehensive student list by 18‑Dec‑2025 and is barred from admitting any new students until the final judgment.
  • The case will proceed to a final hearing on 23‑Sep‑2026 to resolve the legality of the High Court’s earlier judgment.

Topics: Legal; Medical Education