- By Sarju Saran Tiwari
- Sun, 21 Dec 2025 02:10 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
BDS Admission Scam: The Supreme Court has imposed a fine of Rs 10 crore each on ten private dental colleges in Rajasthan for serious irregularities in BDS admissions, terming their actions "blatantly illegal" and compromising the standards of medical education.
A bench of Justices Vijay Bishnoi and J.K. Maheshwari expressed strong displeasure with both the institutions and the Rajasthan government, stating that admission rules were deliberately violated during the 2016-17 academic session.
Investigation into Illegal NEET Percentile Relaxation:
In addition to fining the colleges, the Supreme Court directed the state government to deposit Rs 10 lakh with the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority (RSLSA) for failing to follow proper legal procedures in Bachelor of Dental Surgery admissions.
The court found that the state government had illegally lowered the minimum NEET percentile required for BDS admissions without proper authorization, first by 10 percent and then by an additional 5 percent.
This move allowed several students who did not meet the eligibility criteria set by the Dental Council of India (DCI) to gain admission. Some colleges went even further, admitting more students than their allotted quota.
Relief for Students, Accountability for Institutions:
In its December 18 judgment, the Supreme Court granted relief to the students admitted during that academic year by regularizing their degrees, exercising its constitutional powers to ensure complete justice. However, the court clarified that this relief would not absolve the institutions involved of their accountability.
Advocate Rishabh Sancheti, representing 59 students in the main petition, stated that the court directed the students receiving relief to submit an affidavit to the Rajasthan High Court, pledging to provide free services to the state during public emergencies such as natural disasters, disease outbreaks, or other crises.
Court Slams Illegal BDS Admissions, Orders Welfare Fund:
The court also criticized the state government for granting the relaxation without authorization and for failing to promptly inform the central government and the DCI about the decisions taken.
The court reiterated that the 2007 admission rules had been openly violated. The bench stated, "We are compelled to express our displeasure at how the standards of medical education have been compromised," and added that the deliberate violations by the colleges warrant strict punishment.
The fines imposed on the institutions must be deposited with the RSLSA within eight weeks. The court directed that these funds be used for the welfare of social institutions across Rajasthan, such as one-stop centers, Nari Niketans (women's shelters), old age homes, and child care facilities.