Telangana’s Warangal Medical College Denied NMC Approval for 2025-26 Academic Year, Sparking Controversy and Legal Battle
Hyderabad, Telangana – September 14, 2025 – The National Medical Commission (NMC) has denied permission for Father Colombo Institute of Medical Sciences in Warangal, Telangana, to operate for the 2025-26 academic year, citing unresolved infrastructure deficiencies and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case alleging bribery. The decision, which halts MBBS admissions for the college’s 150 seats, has ignited a legal and political firestorm, with the Telangana High Court intervening to order a reconsideration of the denial. The ruling affects current students, faculty, and aspiring medical professionals, raising questions about regulatory standards, institutional accountability, and the broader integrity of medical education in India.
Background of the Denial
Father Colombo Institute of Medical Sciences, managed by the Medicare Educational Trust in Warangal, has been operational since the 2022-23 academic year, offering 150 MBBS seats. On July 19, 2025, the NMC revoked the college’s Letter of Permission (LOP) for the 2025-26 session, effectively barring new admissions. According to reports from The Indian Express and Times of India, the NMC’s Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) cited multiple reasons for the denial, including deficiencies in faculty numbers, resident doctors, outpatient (OP) admissions, and infrastructure compliance. Additionally, a CBI First Information Report (FIR) filed in June 2025 accused a college trustee, Father Joseph Kommareddy, of paying bribes totaling Rs 66 lakh in two tranches (Rs 20 lakh and Rs 46 lakh) to secure favorable inspection reports.
The CBI’s investigation, part of a larger crackdown on a Rs 1,300 crore medical education bribery scam, implicated 36 individuals, including six from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, as reported by MedBound Times. The FIR alleged that college officials attempted to bribe NMC assessors to overlook deficiencies during inspections, a charge that has cast a shadow over the institution’s credibility. The NMC’s decision aligns with its broader suspension of medical college approvals for 2025-26, announced on July 10, 2025, to restore integrity following the scandal, per hellomentor.in.
Telangana High Court’s Intervention
On September 10, 2025, the Telangana High Court, in a significant ruling, directed the NMC to reconsider its decision, providing relief to Father Colombo Institute. A division bench comprising Justices Abhinand Kumar Shavili and Vakiti Ramakrishna Reddy instructed the college to file an appeal with the NMC’s appellate authority within three days and ordered the NMC to dispose of the matter within 10 days, as reported by indianexpress.com and medicaldialogues.in. The court’s decision was grounded in a Supreme Court precedent from July 21, 2025, in the case of National Medical Commission vs. Madhuri Seva Nyas, which ruled that the mere registration of an FIR is not sufficient grounds to withhold permission if a college otherwise meets regulatory standards.
The high court’s order came after the college, represented by counsel P. Pandu Ranga Reddy, argued that the NMC’s denial was disproportionate. Reddy contended that the cited deficiencies were not adequately detailed and that the FIR against one trustee should not penalize the entire institution. He further highlighted “selective treatment” by the NMC, noting that two other Telangana colleges—Dr. Patnam Mahender Institute of Medical Sciences and CMR Institute of Medical Sciences—received conditional approvals despite similar issues, per timesofindia.indiatimes.com. The court emphasized that the appeal must be considered “on merits without being influenced by the single judge’s prior observations,” which had dismissed an earlier writ petition by the college for lack of maintainability.
Impact on Students and Faculty
The NMC’s decision has profound implications for Father Colombo Institute’s stakeholders. The college currently hosts two MBBS batches, with approximately 300 students enrolled, as noted by telugu.samayam.com. The suspension of new admissions threatens the institution’s financial viability and could disrupt ongoing education for existing students if the denial is upheld. Faculty members, including tutors and resident doctors, face uncertainty, with some expressing concerns about job security to The New Indian Express. Aspiring medical students, particularly those awaiting Round-1 counseling for 2025-26, have been advised by the NMC to avoid the college, as listed in a notification on mbbsexpert.in and campuswala.com, which flagged Father Colombo among nine institutions nationwide with zero approved MBBS seats.
Local students and parents in Warangal have voiced frustration, with protests reported outside the college campus on September 11, 2025. A student, speaking anonymously to News18, said, “We chose this college for its proximity and reputation. Now our future is uncertain because of administrative issues we didn’t cause.” The Telangana Medical Students’ Association has called for a swift resolution, urging the NMC to provide clear timelines for reinspection and approval.
Broader Context: NMC’s Crackdown and Regulatory Challenges
The denial is part of a larger NMC initiative to tighten oversight of medical education following the CBI’s exposure of a nationwide bribery scam. On July 10, 2025, the NMC announced a halt on approvals for new medical colleges, seat increases, and renewals for the 2025-26 session, as reported by MedBound Times. The scam, estimated at over Rs 1,000 crore, involved NMC and Health Ministry officials allegedly granting approvals to colleges lacking basic requirements, such as infrastructure and qualified faculty. Raids across 40 colleges and the arrest of 36 individuals, including 11 ministry officials, underscored the scale of corruption, per hellomentor.in.
The NMC has since deployed senior professors to conduct fresh inspections, warning colleges to comply strictly with the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023. However, critics argue that the blanket suspension risks penalizing legitimate institutions. A medical education expert, speaking to The Hindu on September 12, 2025, said, “While the NMC’s intent to clean up is commendable, genuine colleges like Father Colombo are caught in the crossfire, affecting students and regional healthcare goals.”
Political and Social Reactions
The issue has sparked political sparring in Telangana. The opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) accused the Congress-led state government of failing to support medical education infrastructure, with BRS MLA K.T. Rama Rao posting on X on September 11, 2025: “Congress’ neglect of Warangal’s medical colleges is a betrayal of Telangana’s youth.” The BJP, meanwhile, has used the CBI case to criticize both the college and the state government, with state president G. Kishan Reddy stating, “Corruption in medical education undermines public health. The NMC must act decisively.”
On X, sentiments are mixed. Posts like one from @TelanganaVoice on September 12, with over 5,000 views, read, “Father Colombo’s students deserve clarity, not punishment for management’s mistakes.” Others, such as @BharatHealth, expressed skepticism, stating, “If bribes were paid, how can we trust the college’s standards? NMC is right to crack down.”
Legal and Administrative Next Steps
Following the high court’s directive, Father Colombo Institute filed its appeal with the NMC’s appellate authority on September 13, 2025. The NMC is expected to conduct a fresh inspection by September 23, focusing on rectifying deficiencies in faculty, infrastructure, and patient facilities. The college has pledged to address these issues, with a spokesperson telling medicaldialogues.in, “We are committed to meeting NMC standards and ensuring quality education for our students.”
The Telangana government, led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, has also intervened, directing the state’s Medical Education Department to assist the college in meeting compliance requirements. Reddy met with college representatives on September 12, emphasizing the importance of maintaining Telangana’s reputation as a hub for medical education, per The New Indian Express.
Future Implications
The outcome of Father Colombo’s appeal will have far-reaching consequences. A successful reconsideration could restore the college’s operations, preserving its role in training doctors for Telangana’s underserved regions. Failure to secure approval, however, could lead to closure, impacting hundreds of students and faculty and setting a precedent for stricter NMC enforcement. The case also highlights systemic challenges in India’s medical education sector, where rapid expansion—Telangana alone has 30 private medical colleges—has strained regulatory oversight.
As the NMC’s deadline approaches, all eyes are on Warangal. The college’s fate will not only shape local education prospects but also influence the national discourse on balancing accountability with access to medical training. For updates, stakeholders can monitor announcements on www.nmc.org.in or contact the Telangana Medical Education Department at mededu.telangana.gov.in.
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