'Belies All Logic': MP High Court Restrains Institutes Recognized In 2025 From Conducting Paramedical Course For 2023-24 & 2024-25 Sessions

The Madhya Pradesh High Court in an interim order on Wednesday (July 16) restrained institutes offering paramedical course which were granted recognition by the State Paramedical Council in 2025 to conduct academic sessions for years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. 

Observing that the institutes offering paramedical course for 2023-24 when they themselves came into existence in 2025 belied logic, the bench of Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Deepak Khot in its order dictated: 

Undisputedly, the course for 2023-24 could not be carried as none of these institutions came into existence. These 166 institutions could only be deemed to have come into existence from the date recognition was granted by State Paramedical Council. That recognition itself was granted in year 2025. It belies all logic, sensibility and questions the sanity of a reasonable man how these institutions could be allowed to start the course for the year 2023-24...The institutions are categorically directed that they shall take no steps to start the session year 2023-24. Any attempt to do so (by institutions) shall construed as a direct violation of the order passed by this court leading to contempt proceedings. Likewise the course for 2024-25 also shall remain stayed..."

The court was hearing a PIL highlighting "irregularities and illegalities in the recognition and admission process of Paramedical Institutions in Madhya Pradesh".

The state government's order of November 11, 2024 revived the MP Paramedical Council (which had been dissolved earlier) to "conduct the recognition process for the academic session 2023-24 and upcoming sessions", as well as registration of personnel passing the co-medical courses and examinations of the certificate courses as per the rules prevalent under the earlier Madhya Pradesh Paramedical Council Act 2000.

The petitioners had filed an interlocutory application seeking a stay on the ongoing courses of recognition and admission for academic session 2023-24 and 2024-25 for colleges giving courses in paramedical education.

During the hearing, the petitioners argued that since the last hearing, the State Government has passed an order effectively commencing retrospective admissions of students for the academic year 2023-24.

The court noted the submissions made by the counsel for MP Paramedical Council who said that paramedical courses for 2023-24 commences from November 2023 to October 2024. It was submitted that the last date for receiving applications for recognition of institutions was 31-12-2023.

It was submitted that at that point of time, the Special Act of State which is MP Paramedical Council Recruitment and Condition of service regulations 2001 were enforced. Subsequently, on 05-03-2024 the Paramedical Council of the State was dissolved as the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act in 2021 recognised the course in paramedical sciences and so the recognition of these institutions was to take place by the aforementioned body. 

The counsel stated that as the corum of the National Commission was itself not complete, they could not frame regulations for granting recognition to institutions offering paramedical courses.

The counsel said that in this circumstance, on 11-11-2024, the State Government revived the Paramedical Council under State Act. He placed before the court an order dated 09-12-2024 issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare where it had disclosed that the National Commission could not be made functional till the date of the issuance due to non-availability of required members and once Commission becomes functional, regulations for functions of State Council under Section 40 will be framed. 

"However, it has not been done till date. Therefore, the State Paramedical Council was once again revived. State Paramedical council received application from 277 from prospective institutions seeking recognition to offer courses in paramedical sciences...out of which166 institutions were granted recognition by inspecting teams between January and February 2025," the court noted the counsel's submissions in its order. 

It was submitted that on the basis of this approval–the recognition granted between January and February 2025–14-7-2025 order was issued by the Paramedical Council permitting course for 2023-24 session. 

During the hearing the court orally said that the academic session of 2023-24 had already commenced, while the applications for recognition were received in December 2023. It thus orally remarked, "Should this approval not have been granted to those colleges way before November 2023, before you could take in the students?". 

The bench also asked about the distinction between nursing and paramedical courses. To this the Council's advocate informed that paramedical courses include technical procedures, including 'ECG operations, X Ray machine operations, bandaging patients' etc. However, the court remarked that these skills were also part of the training provided under the Nursing course curriculum. 

When the Council's advocate said that after the Council was revived in November 2024, the Government directed it to take up the process of recognition for 2023-24 session, the court orally remarked, "This is absurd. The entire year is lost".

When the counsel said that the classes were not conducted the court orally said, "Yes, because you have not yet given recognition to these colleges......When you are dealing with law there is something known as a rationale. Which is logic. You are not able to rationalize the entire process. The recognition is given in January and February 2025 but course will be called November 2023 to October 2024. Who is making these policies?...We will hear it on day to day basis. Come and argue...There is something seriously wrong here that even before recognitions are is granted you are saying the course is on? This is what we call insanity. This is trying to find out method in madness. We are staying this". 

The court listed this matter for further hearing on July 24. 

For Petitioners: Advocates Vishal Baghel, Alok Vagrecha, Deepak Tiwari, Rashmi Bagri, Ishan Jatavedus Tignath, Devam Kumar Patel and Manish Baghel

Case Title: Law Students Association v State of MP (WP - 27497/2025)