Rajasthan High Court Issues Contempt Notice To State University For Withholding Annual Affiliation Of Medical College Despite Court Order

The Rajasthan High Court issued contempt notice to Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS) for failing to grant annual affiliation to a college in contravention of a coordinate bench's direction, observing that RUHS was bent upon harassing the college for no good reason.

Justice Vinit Kumar Mathur was hearing a petition by Saloni Institute of Medical Sciences against RUHS, claiming that despite direction of the coordinate bench, its affiliation for the year 2024-25 was withheld.

"The above narrated facts depict that the respondent RUHS is bent upon to harass the petitioner-Institution for no good reason," the court said. The court further referred to the coordinate bench's August 27, 2024 decision which had directed RUHS to grant annual affiliation to the petitioner "not only for the current Session i.e. 2024-25, but also for ensuing Sessions so far the petitioner continues to be eligible". 

The petitioner argued that without there being any reason, its name was excluded before the first round of counselling and was included only on the last date due to which it was not able to fill in its allotted seats. It was submitted that due to inaction of part of RUHS, 5 seats remained vacant for which the petitioner will have to bear losses.

After considering the arguments and perusing the records, the Court said:

“A bare reading of the order dated 27.08.2024 reveals the inaction on the part of the respondent RUHS and less said the better, the authorities are undermining the orders passed by this Court. Since, the respondents have not issued the orders for annual affiliation of the petitioner-Institution till date for no good reason, therefore, it is a fit case where the suo-motu contempt proceedings are required to be initiated against the respondent RUHS.”

"Accordingly, the Registry is directed to register the present writ petition as a contempt petition against the respondent No.2 – Rajasthan University of Health Sciences, through its Registrar, Kumbha Marg, Sector – 18, Pratap Nagar, Tonk Road, Jaipur," the court directed. 

"Issue notice to the respondent No.2 - Rajasthan University of Health Sciences, through its Registrar, Kumbha Marg, Sector – 18, Pratap Nagar, Tonk Road, Jaipur to show cause as to why contempt proceedings be not initiated against him for noncompliance of the order passed by this Court on 27.08.2024," it said. 

The matter is next listed on March 25. 

Title: Saloni Institute of Medical Sciences v the State of Rajasthan

Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Raj) 82

For Petitioner(s): Mr. Shreyansh Marida

For Respondent(s): Mr. Mahendra Bishnoi

Click Here To Read/Download Order