After being at the core of controversy for over five years for not being at par with the Medical Council of India (MCI) guidelines, the Gujarat High Court has ordered transfer of Swami Vivekanand Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Valia town, Bharuch, to Surat Medical College.

The college started in 2002. But ever since, it has had only two batches of students. The college failed to upgrade its infrastructure to the level set by the MCI, and was not permitted fresh admissions in the academic years 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

The college also faced problems such as inadequacy of teaching staff. The issue of college and hospital not being in the same plot also gave the college authorities trouble. The matter blew out of proportions when the MCI denied its final year pass-outs the permission to practice. Following this, the students approached the HC.

“The case was taken up at two levels. One involved the first batch of students who were admitted through Centralised Admission Committee of the State government but were not given the permission to practice. The second was to decide the fate of the 2004 batch students who will face similar trouble,” said advocate Sudhir Nanavati, who took up the case.

The High Court finally transferred the students to Surat Medical College where the first batch students have to undergo three-months internship. The 2004 batch students will be transferred with the joint decision of Veer Narmad University, Surat and the state government. “The court has ordered to transfer the first batch of students within a week and the 2004 batch within a month,” said Nanavati.