MP Nursing College Scam: HC Asks CBI Why No Action Against 600 Unfit Institutes 

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has pulled up the Central Bureau of Investigation over the lack of legal action against nearly 600 nursing colleges found ineligible during a probe into a major fake recognition racket.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday adopted a tough stance in the ongoing case of fake recognition of nursing colleges across the state, demanding answers from the CBI on why those running substandard institutes have not faced legal consequences.

Hearing a public interest litigation, a division bench of Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf directed the central agency to produce records of all 800 nursing colleges under scrutiny. The court specifically questioned why no punitive measures have been taken against the 600 colleges that were found ineligible during the investigation.

CBIs report sought

The court has set a deadline of May 12 for a detailed report. Officials familiar with the matter said the bench asked the CBI to clarify exactly how many individuals or institutions have been found complicit in the scandal so far. The agency has also been told to spell out the specific penal actions taken against those responsible.

"Initial reports from the probe indicated serious infrastructure gaps, but the lack of follow-up action is what has puzzled the court," a source close to the development said.

Nursing councils under scanner

In a significant move, the court also sought a response from both the Indian Nursing Council and the Madhya Pradesh Nursing Council. The judges reportedly asked who was responsible for granting recognition to these ineligible colleges in the first place, questioning the "collusion" that allowed it to happen.

The councils have been ordered to submit a sworn affidavit listing the officers who were responsible for approving these substandard institutes over time. They must also detail what administrative or legal proceedings have been initiated against those officers.

The case background

The controversy first surfaced through a PIL filed by Vishal Baghel, president of the Law Students Association, challenging the recognition process of hundreds of nursing colleges that opened in 2020-21. Following the high court’s initial strictures, a CBI probe was ordered.

That investigation found that out of roughly 800 nursing colleges, nearly 600 were operating without basic mandatory facilities. Sources said many lacked proper buildings, labs, libraries, experienced teachers, and even the required 100-bed hospitals. In several cases, principals and teachers were shown working at 10-15 different colleges simultaneously.

Student futures at stake

The association had also alleged that the state nursing council was conducting final-year exams for students from 117 of these ineligible GNM colleges, rather than transferring them to suitable institutions.

The high court has kept both applications pending while making it clear that no responsible individual or institution playing with the quality of nursing education will be spared. The next hearing in the matter is scheduled for May 12.