Medical College Inspection: SC appoints Nandan Nilekani for technological solution

The Supreme Court has appointed Infosys Co-founder Nandan Nilekani for a network-based technological solution to address the problems surrounding inspection of medical colleges by the Medical Council of India (MCI)..The order was passed by the Bench of Justice SA Bobde and Justice L Nageswara Rao while hearing a batch of petitions filed by various Medical colleges of Kerala against the MCI..The Court noted in its order that incessant disputes reach the Supreme Court about what actually transpired during the inspections of various private medical colleges by the Medical Council of India. The parties contest virtually every fact that is recorded in an inspection, the Court noted..The proposal to set up a technological solution for these disputes was made by the Amicus Curiae, Kapil Sibal. The counsel appearing for the MCI, Gaurav Sharma, concurred with the same..“Mr. Kapil Sibal, learned Amicus Curiae, suggests a computer network based technological solution which might include artificial intelligence. For this purpose, he requests us to appoint an expert in the field like Mr. Nandan Nilekani..Mr. Gaurav Sharma, learned counsel appearing for the respondent-MCI, supports the above suggestion made by Mr. Sibal, learned Amicus Curiae”, the order noted..The Court, therefore, sought “concrete suggestions” from Nilekani at the earliest and directed the MCI to convene a meeting with Nilekani, Sibal and any other Counsel who might wish to attend, to look into the issue..“We accordingly request Mr. Nandan Nilekani to go into this problem and give concrete suggestions to this Court at the earliest. .The respondent-MCI shall convene a meeting with Mr. Nilekani, Mr. Sibal, learned Amicus Curiae and any other learned counsel who may be interested in the matter, either at New Delhi or any other place in India within a period of 15 days from today.”.The said meeting is to take place within a fortnight and is to be chaired by Sibal. Both Sibal and Sharma are to prepare a written note for the benefit of Nilekani highlighting the problems that need to be looked into..The Court also granted liberty to Nilekani to seek technical assistance from IT companies for the purpose of making suggestions in the case and fixed the next date of hearing after a period of six weeks..Read the Order below.