Govt, Nursing Council Must Take Action Against Private Nursing Colleges Not Paying Teachers As Per UGC Scale: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court has recently held that teachers teaching in private nursing colleges must be paid as per UGC Scales or, not less than what is admissible in nursing colleges under the State/Central government in accordance with the Nursing Council Regulations.Justice D.K. Singh observed that the government and the Indian Nursing Council must take action against nursing colleges, which...
The Kerala High Court has recently held that teachers teaching in private nursing colleges must be paid as per UGC Scales or, not less than what is admissible in nursing colleges under the State/Central government in accordance with the Nursing Council Regulations.
Justice D.K. Singh observed that the government and the Indian Nursing Council must take action against nursing colleges, which are not paying their teachers according to the mandate under Note iv of Regulation 5D of the Indian Nursing Council (Revised Regulations and Curriculum for B.Sc. (Nursing) Program) Regulations 2020.
The Court was considering a writ petition preferred by the Kerala State United Nurses Association-Teachers Association, which stated that the teachers in private nursing colleges are being paid pittances.
Noting that the state government and the statutory body has a duty to implement the regulations, the Court observed:
“If any private nursing college is not implementing the Indian Nursing Council (Revised Regulations and Curriculum for B.Sc. (Nursing) Program) Regulations 2020, punitive action of de-recognition, etc, must be taken against such nursing college.”
Thereafter, the Court directed the State government to issue show cause notices to private colleges violating the aforesaid regulation.
Once the responses of the colleges are received, the State government has to submit a report and recommend appropriate action against them to the Nursing Council, the Court directed.
The Nursing Council (2nd respondent) was also directed to act upon the recommendations of the State government.
With the aforesaid three directions, the Court closed the writ petition.
Case No: WP(C) No. 35039 of 2024
Case Title: Kerala State United Nurses Association-Teachers Association & Anr. v. Union of India & Ors.
Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Ker) 410
Counsels for the petitioner: Adv. Rajit
Counsels for the respondent: Binny Thomas, SC - Kerala University Of Health Sciences, Shri.P.Sreekumar (Sr.), Dr. Abraham P Meachinkara SC, Tony George Kannanthanam, Vivek Menon SC, Thomas George, Premchand R. Nair Sr Gp, Ebee Antony, Ajith George Koola