The Dental Council of India’s rejection of a Dental college student's plea for migration on “compassionate grounds” to another college, close to the hospital, where she is undergoing treatment for cervical spondylitis has been questioned by the High Court of Karnataka.It has sought an explanation from the DCI, on what constitutes ‘compassionate grounds,’ for it.

The Court's single bench comprising of Justice B V Nagarathna issued notices on Friday, to the DCI and Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGHUS) after hearing a petition filed by Trishathi, a second-year student at Maaruti College of Dental Sciences.

The dental student had filed a petition challenging the DCI rejection, regarding her migration, to a college near Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS), the place of her treatment for Cervical Spondylitis

Cervical Spondylitis affects the joints and discs in the neck.

The petitioner is seeking a Court directive to the DCI, to approve her request for migration from Maaruti College of Dental Sciences and Research Centre, Bannerghatta to VS Dental College and Hospital which is on the KIMS premises.

The petition expresses her inability to attend college and travel distances for treatment.

Though a ''No Objection Certificate'' has been granted to her from both the educational institutions. However, the DCI has still gone ahead and disapproved her request. The reason given by it is that it does not come within the purview of ‘compassionate grounds.’

According to the DCI, provisions of the BDS Course Regulations, 2007 cite two conditions under which migration grounds may be considered. Following are the conditions:

• death of supporting guardian


• disturbed conditions as declared by the government in a dental college area.

The HC bench clarified that since the student suffered from a medical condition she was to be considered on compassionate grounds. It posted the matter of hearing to December 5, reports Deccan Herald.