Bail of Subharti Group Head cancelled

Dehradun: Subharti Group of Institution's Head, Dr Atul Kishan Bhatnagar faces an uncertain future with Simran Jeet Kaur, Judicial Magistrate 1 Dehradun, cancelling his bail on account of bounced checks issued to a complainant Nitu Verma. Dr Bhatnagar is alleged to have issued checks worth crores to Ms. Verma, on the promise that the latter would designate him as trustee of her Shri Shri 1008 Narayan Swami Charitable Trust, that is running the Shridev Suman Shubharti Medical College in Dehradun.

Nitu Verma has in her court pleading stated that the accused in question has not renewed the bank surety given in his bail plea, alleging that he is misleading the court with his absence, hence his bail be rejected.

The Judicial Magistrate acting on a report received from her office stating that the given bank fixed deposits for the bail expired on November 12, 2015, and October 17, 2015, ordered cancellation of Dr Bhatnagar’s bail, reports the Tribune.

The cancellation of Dr. Bhatnagar’s bail has created a twist in this tale and the ones who are to be worst hit will be the 150 MBBS students who were enrolled in the college in 2016-17.

Dr. Jagat Narain Subharti Charitable Trust was given conditional permission to establish Sridev Suman Subharti Medical College in Dehradun by the Supreme Court mandated Oversight Committee of the Medical Council of India. However, MCI evaluation inspections held on October 26 and 27 found several discrepancies, besides the dispute over ownership of land.

The MCI, thereafter, at an Executive Committee meeting held on January 13, this year, asked the Ministry of Health, Uttarakhand, to debar Sridev Suman Shubharti Medical College from admitting students to the MBBS course for two years. The apex body also took a decision to en cash the bank guarantee of Rs. 11.50 crore furnished by Dr. Jagat Narain Charitable Trust to run the medical college in accordance with the directives of the Oversight Committee.

The MCI in its report stated that, “The trust does not fulfill the qualifying criteria of establishment of a new medical college”.

In possession of 13.59 acres of alleged disputed land, the trust has failed to get any relief from the Uttarakhand High Court. The minimum stipulated land requirement according to the MCI regulation is 20 acres, which can be in two pieces not more than 10 km apart. One piece is supposed to be minimum five acres in size, which is not so in the case of this college. The Shridev Suman Shubharti Medical College has land in three pieces in three revenue villages, states the report. Meanwhile, the college authorities have expressed ignorance on the issue of Dr Bhatnagar’s bail standing cancelled.

Students affected by the controversy have welcomed the court order. They allege to have been charged an exorbitant fee of Rs. 11 lakh at the time of admission. Citing the Allahabad High Court ruling in the Saxena Medical College Lucknow case, wherein a compensation of Rs. 25 lakh was given to those affected, the students are asking that the same be paid to them.

Medical Education, Director, Dr Ashutosh Sayana said, “We are making efforts to ensure that the future of the students is not endangered and the department will try to adjust them elsewhere. We are working to act on the directions of the Secretary, Medical Education, the MCI and the Union government and ensure the refund of fees as soon as they receive directions in this regard”.