The Supreme Court has stayed Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench order relating to the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) probe into the alleged malpractices in the admission process for various courses in the Ayush department in 2019. The UP government had challenged the High Court’s order, stating that the court had exceeded its jurisdiction as a bail court and also that the State Special Task Force is investigating the case. The SC has issued a notice to the respondent on the petition.
The UPSTF is investigating the Ayush admission scam and recently arrested Dr Ritu Garg, the Director of Santushti Ayurvedic Medical College in Mirzapur, for allegedly facilitating the admission of undeserving candidates by forging the NEET merit list. Along with her, former Ayurveda director SN Singh and counseling incharge Umakant Yadav were also allegedly involved in the scam and were suspended in November 2022.
The anomalies in the admission of undergraduate students to the state’s government and private ayurvedic, unani, and homoeopathy colleges were flagged by the Union Ministry of Ayush. It was revealed that 932 students were admitted without following the natural order of merit.
The Allahabad High Court had passed the order while allowing the bail plea of Dr Ritu Garg. The UP government has not objected to the bail order but has challenged the portion of the order directing the CBI investigation into the matter.
Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj questioned how a CBI investigation could be ordered when the High Court was dealing with a bail matter. The matter is currently sub judice, and more details are awaited.
