D.Y Patil Medical College Scandal: Dean Appointment Illegal?

Illegal Deanship at Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College

• Dean Without License? NMC Blows Whistle

• RTI Bombshell Shakes Patil Medical College

Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098

Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College faces serious charges of appointing an unregistered Dean, fee fraud, and unethical academic demands. The NMC has issued a show-cause notice, while RTI evidence confirms regulatory violations. Students suffer exploitation as legal action looms. The Sprouts News Special Investigation Team (SIT) continues investigating this escalating medical education scandal.

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Unregistered Dean Sparks Regulatory Showdown at Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College

In a stunning revelation that threatens the credibility of medical education in Maharashtra, Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, Pune, has come under the radar of the National Medical Commission (NMC) for appointing an unregistered Dean, Dr.Rekha Arcot. The NMC issued a show-cause notice on May 23, 2025, after multiple RTI findings and appeals to top government offices confirmed that Dr. Arcot holds no valid registration with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC), rendering her deanship illegal under the MMC Act, 1965.

Official MMC responses, forwarded by the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s Office, categorically deny Dr. Arcot’s registration in the state. Despite this, the college’s official communications and the National Medical Commission’s own records identify her as the acting Dean and Professor of General Surgery—a direct violation of Section 32(2) of the NMC Act.

Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College: Medical Education Violations and Legal Accountability Under Scrutiny

This incident highlights a glaring breach of regulatory protocol. Under Indian Penal Code Section 420, misrepresentation of qualifications for professional gain qualifies as cheating. Further bolstering the legal case, the landmark Poonam Verma vs Ashwin Patel (1996) Supreme Court verdict deemed any medical practice without state registration an act of gross negligence.

The ramifications go beyond academic integrity. Legal experts suggest this could invalidate all orders passed under Dr. Arcot’s authority as null and void. Petitions have already been filed demanding her immediate suspension under NMC Section 30 and the retrospective nullification of all administrative orders she issued.

Patil Medical College: Fraud, RTI Cover-Ups & Governor’s Convocation Snub

The fraud was brought to light thanks to persistent RTI efforts by Dr. Divyansh Dwivedi, a former resident. Despite submitting over 10 RTIs, the college evaded accountability until the Maharashtra CM’s office escalated the matter to the MMC. The college’s continued defiance, including ignoring complaints submitted to the NMC, the Ministry of Health, and the Prime Minister’s Office, reflects a deliberate cover-up strategy.

Adding to the disgrace, Maharashtra Governor Ramesh Bais canceled his scheduled appearance at the college’s 16th convocation ceremony—an unambiguous political rebuke amid mounting controversy. The Sprouts News Special Investigation Team (SIT) confirms that internal event organizers were not given any official reason for the withdrawal.

Student Exploitation: Fee Extortion and Publication Blackmail

Beyond faculty fraud, students at Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College allege systemic exploitation. According to NMC’s latest audit, the institution continued collecting fifth-year fees for facilities never availed—despite clear directives from the regulatory body to refund them.

Worse, the college enforces a draconian rule requiring residents to publish three Scopus-indexed research papers merely to qualify for final exams. This demand, which is not backed by any NMC guidelines, is viewed by students and legal activists as coercive and academically unjustified.

Historic Legal Precedents Strengthen Student Claims

This case draws uncomfortable parallels with earlier judgments. In Dr. Praful Desai vs MMC (2003), the Bombay High Court annulled the appointment of unregistered faculty, setting a precedent highly relevant in the current matter. Legal petitions submitted to the Pune Bench of the Bombay HC seek the immediate halting of fifth-year fee collection, retrospective invalidation of decisions taken under Dr. Arcot, and monetary compensation to affected students under provisions of the Right to Education (RTE) Act.

As one petitioner argued, “If the head of an institution is illegally appointed, everything downstream becomes void.”

Illegal Dean selection at Dr DY Patil Medical College

Implications for Medical Governance and Institutional Accreditation

The NMC has given the institution a seven-day deadline to explain its position. Non-compliance could result in stringent actions, including:

•Derecognition or disaffiliation by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Maharashtra Higher Education Department

•Suspension of medical programs under directives from the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS)

•Initiation of criminal proceedings against key management members

Sources from within the Sprouts News Special Investigation Team (SIT) indicate that internal whistleblowers are now cooperating with state agencies. If verified, these testimonies could further expose malpractice in recruitment, examination oversight, and financial dealings.

Also Read: Parsi Cyclist Club Sale Sparks Fraud Allegations.

Future of Thousands of Students Hangs in the Balance

This scandal doesn’t just highlight administrative lapses—it underscores a systemic failure in the checks and balances that govern India’s private medical education. The fallout could affect thousands of students whose academic futures now hang in uncertainty.

Medical regulation in India is already under pressure due to outdated frameworks and uneven enforcement. As the NMC intensifies its investigation, this case might well become a turning point for higher education governance across the country.

The Sprouts News Special Investigation Team (SIT) will continue to monitor this case and provide verified updates as new developments unfold. Stakeholders from both policy and academic circles await a firm regulatory response—one that restores public trust in India’s healthcare education system.