Notice to Union health ministry on plea to declare univ's courses illegal

The Madras High Court issued notice to the secretary, Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on a plea to declare certain courses offered by the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University here, without the permission of the Centre and the Medical Council of India (MCI), illegal.

Justice S Vaidyanathan also issued notice to the MCI and the university, returnable by the first week of June.

The petition is filed by the Doctors' Welfare Association of Tamil Nadu.

The petitioner has submitted that the university is offering or proposing various courses without the Centre's prior permission.

It is offering various post-graduate degree, diploma courses and fellowship programmes without the prior permission of the Centre and the recognition of qualification by the MCI as per section 11 of the Medical Council of India Act-1956, the petitioner has submitted.

The university conducting or proposing to conduct such courses, either by itself or through colleges affiliated to it or through the distance mode, is illegal, the petitioner association has submitted, seeking a direction to declare such courses invalid.

It has also sought an interim direction to restrain the university from offering such courses.