The future of hundreds of postgraduate medical students from Mumbai’s College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPS) hung in uncertainty this week as the Supreme Court took up their case. On October 9, Attorney General R. Venkataramani assured the bench that the government was actively working to safeguard the interests of these students after the Bombay High Court upheld the derecognition of CPS’s courses earlier this year.
“The issue is being looked into with urgency,” the Attorney General told the bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K.V. Viswanathan, offering a ray of hope to anxious students.
Background
The controversy began when the Post Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) derecognised all CPS postgraduate medical courses on August 16, 2024. The move came after repeated warnings that CPS had failed to comply with the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019, which regulates medical education across India.
CPS, a non-government body, had long been conducting diploma and fellowship programs in collaboration with hospitals. However, authorities found that CPS had been operating “like an examination board” without legal authority to grant recognized medical qualifications.
The petitioner - a former president of the Maharashtra Medical Council - argued that CPS had been running unapproved programs for years, leaving thousands of doctors with degrees that were essentially invalid. His public interest litigation (PIL) before the Bombay High Court led to the derecognition order, which the Supreme Court is now reviewing in light of its impact on current students.
Court’s Observations
During the latest hearing, Attorney General Venkataramani informed the Court that 932 students have been identified who are waiting to sit for their examinations. He assured that efforts were underway to ensure these students could continue their education and obtain legitimate certification.
However, Senior Advocate Vikas Singh countered that the 932 students represent only those registered with the National Medical Commission, and that many more-especially those under various State Medical Councils-remain unaccounted for.
Justice Pardiwala took note of this gap and remarked that the matter involves not just numbers but young professionals’ lives. “The learned Attorney has indicated some progress, but we must ensure that all students, including those under State Councils, are identified and protected,” the bench observed.
The Court pressed for a comprehensive plan to secure the future of every affected student, noting that piecemeal measures would not suffice.
Decision
Acknowledging the Attorney General’s assurance, the bench granted four weeks’ time to work out a concrete solution. In its brief order, the Supreme Court recorded:
“According to the learned Attorney, approximately 932 students have been identified. However, students registered with State Medical Councils are yet to be accounted for. The learned Attorney General submitted that the issue will be looked into. We request the Attorney to bring some arrangement by which the future of all these students is secured.”
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The Court will revisit the matter after four weeks, by which time the government is expected to present a full plan for recognition, examination, or alternative accommodation for all CPS students.
For now, the students’ wait continues - but with cautious optimism that the nation’s top court has their backs.
Case: College of Physicians and Surgeons, CPS House vs Suhas Hari Pingle
Case Type & Number: Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 13081 of 2025
Date of Hearing: October 9, 2025
