LAHORE: Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar remarked that neither he had unlimited powers nor could he intervene in every matter, while hearing different suo motu cases and writ petitions at the Supreme Court Lahore Registry, he said that being the chief justice, he had to follow the law in letter and spirit.
While taking up the private medical colleges’ case, a Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, ordered the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) to finalise the applications of three new medical colleges. The colleges include Al-Aleem Medical College Lahore, Niazi Medical College Sargodha and CMH Kharian Medical College Kharian for recognition within a week.
The court directed the PMDC to scrutinise the applications of the colleges in accordance with the new criteria besides allowing three months' time to meet the deficiencies and shortcomings as per set criteria.
The court also directed the owners/administration to submit affidavit that they would be subject to legal and civil action in case of non-compliance. The bench comprising Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and Justice Ijazul Ahsan passed the orders while lifting a ban on the recognition of new medical colleges to the extent of petitioner-colleges on their applications in suo motu notice against exorbitant fee structure of private medical colleges.
At the outset of the hearing, the bench criticised Pak Red Crescent Medical College (PRCMC) administration for not providing required facilities and completing the faculty in the college. However, PRCMC’s counsel submitted that due to various reasons, the college faced certain problems and requested the court to grant six months to overcome the shortcomings.
The bench observed that it could not allow six months' time and directed the authorities concerned to overcome the shortcomings within three months. A FIA representative also submitted a report on the investigations carried out into the PRCMC issue in compliance with the court orders.
The counsel, on behalf of Al-Aleem Medical College and Niazi Medical College, requested the bench for directions to the PMDC for finalising their applications for their recognition. At this, the bench ordered the PMDC to finalise their applications in accordance with the criteria while adjourning the hearing.