Higher Education
Colleges in South India
Educational News Today
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Chennai: The Madras High Court has dismissed with costs of Rs.25,000, a public interest litigation petition seeking to forbear authorities from allowing the School of Health Services (SHS) of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi, from conducting the Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing Degree course in study centres in Tamil Nadu without recognition.
Terming the petition, filed by the Association of Recognised Private Nursing Schools and Colleges, “private and business interest litigation,” a Division Bench of Justices Elipe Dharma Rao and D. Hariparanthaman said that costs should be paid to the SHS.
It made it clear that nursing education was governed by the Indian Nursing Council Act. If one possessed a qualification/higher qualification recognised under the Act, then one was entitled to register the same in the State Register. In spite of such clear legal position, the association was emboldened to file the writ petition seeking the direction.
The Indian Nursing Council (INC) had recognised the study centres of IGNOU in Tamil Nadu.
The Bench said from the material available, it seemed that at the instance of the association, a meeting of the Tamil Nadu Health Department and the association office-bearers was held on December 4, 2008, and a decision taken that the government should not give recognition to IGNOU centres.
The government instructed the Tamil Nadu Nurses and Midwives Council not to register the names of candidates who had acquired higher qualification from IGNOU study centres, even if those study centres were recognised by the INC. “In our view, the Government of Tamil Nadu has no such power to pass such an order and such an order is against Sections 10(1) and 11 (1) of the Indian Nursing Council Act.”
Citing a letter by the association to the State government ahead of the meeting, the court said the private educational institutions were opposed to opening of study centres by IGNOU and awarding degrees and postgraduate degrees. While opening so many nursing schools and nursing colleges, they did not want other players to come in. “It is nothing but a business rivalry.”
Plea to bar conduct of course dismissed
Chennai: The Madras High Court has dismissed with costs of Rs.25,000, a public interest litigation petition seeking to forbear authorities from allowing the School of Health Services (SHS) of Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), New Delhi, from conducting the Post Basic B.Sc. Nursing Degree course in study centres in Tamil Nadu without recognition.
Terming the petition, filed by the Association of Recognised Private Nursing Schools and Colleges, “private and business interest litigation,” a Division Bench of Justices Elipe Dharma Rao and D. Hariparanthaman said that costs should be paid to the SHS.
The Indian Nursing Council (INC) had recognised the study centres of IGNOU in Tamil Nadu.
The Bench said from the material available, it seemed that at the instance of the association, a meeting of the Tamil Nadu Health Department and the association office-bearers was held on December 4, 2008, and a decision taken that the government should not give recognition to IGNOU centres.
The government instructed the Tamil Nadu Nurses and Midwives Council not to register the names of candidates who had acquired higher qualification from IGNOU study centres, even if those study centres were recognised by the INC. “In our view, the Government of Tamil Nadu has no such power to pass such an order and such an order is against Sections 10(1) and 11 (1) of the Indian Nursing Council Act.”
Citing a letter by the association to the State government ahead of the meeting, the court said the private educational institutions were opposed to opening of study centres by IGNOU and awarding degrees and postgraduate degrees. While opening so many nursing schools and nursing colleges, they did not want other players to come in. “It is nothing but a business rivalry.”
Courtesy: The Hindu
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