SUPREME COURT VALIDATES MBBS DEGREE OF STUDENT DESPITE CANCELLATION OF HER ST CERTIFICATE, IMPOSES RS.5 LAKH PENALTY ON FATHER:

The Supreme Court recently intervened to protect the academic career of a medical student by regularizing her MBBS degree, despite the fact that it had been obtained based on a Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate submitted by her father, which was subsequently invalidated by the Caste Scrutiny Committee. The Court also imposed a cost of Rs 5 lakhs on the father for his fraudulent actions, noting that he had previously concealed the invalidation of the community certificate on multiple occasions. The bench, comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan, emphasized that the student’s academic career could not be irreversibly jeopardized due to the misconduct of her father. The Court observed that the father had provided an undertaking that his daughter would not seek any benefits on the basis of belonging to the Scheduled Tribe, and that no one in the family would claim such benefits in the future. On this basis, the Court regularized her admission to the MBBS course.

The appellant had secured admission to the MBBS program in 2016 on the strength of a community certificate issued in 2009, which certified her as a member of the Mannervarlu Scheduled Tribe. She successfully completed her MBBS degree in 2021 and was pursuing postgraduate studies in the general category. In 2022, after the completion of her MBBS course, the Scrutiny Committee canceled her community certificate, noting that her father’s and uncle’s claims had been rejected as far back as 1989 and 1991. The Bombay High Court dismissed her plea challenging the committee’s decision, describing the situation as a “glaring example of patent fraud.” Consequently, the student approached the Supreme Court seeking relief.

At the outset, the Supreme Court acknowledged the correctness of the High Court’s decision regarding the fraudulent aspects of the certificate. However, the Court highlighted the precarious position of the student, observing that dismissing the appeal would effectively end her academic and professional career. The Court considered her meritorious performance throughout her MBBS course and her strong academic record in Class 12 as relevant factors in granting relief. The bench noted that while equity should ideally follow the law, the unique circumstances of this case required a compassionate approach, ensuring that the appellant’s career and future were not unduly harmed. The Court further held the father primarily responsible for creating the complex situation and emphasized the need for accountability for his actions.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court partly allowed the appeal, regularizing the appellant’s MBBS admission while making it clear that she would not claim the status of Mannervarlu Scheduled Tribe in the future. The Court affirmed all other aspects of the High Court judgment, effectively superseding it only in terms of regularizing the MBBS degree. Additionally, the father was directed to deposit Rs 5 lakhs with the National Defence Fund within two months as a consequence of his fraudulent conduct. The decision underscores the Court’s commitment to balancing legal principles with fairness and equity, ensuring that innocent parties, such as the student in this case, are not unduly penalized for the misconduct of others.