By Aditi Mishra
The Supreme Court of India has directed UGC and other regulatory bodies to thoroughly review fake educational institutes and issue public advisories warning people against taking admission to unverified educational institutes without verifying whether they are credible or authentic. The SC came up with this move after a report about a suspected medical college being operated by a tea-seller from an old farm house in Etah, Uttar Pradesh.
The direction was issued by Bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and N.V. Anjaria on October 9, 2026. The court also ordered the Union Government to monitor whether regulatory authorities are following the order.
The Supreme Court reviewed a report regarding an institution in Mahmoodpur Nagaria village in Etah district. According to the report presented before the Bench, the institution claimed to offer courses like D.Pharma, B.Pharma, B.Sc. Nursing, DMLT, BMLT, BAMS, GNM, and ANM.
According to the court records, the college institution is an old building situated in the middle of the ground with just a few rooms. Bhagwan Das Singh Baghel reportedly was a tea-seller with no relevant degrees operating the institution from a farmhouse and was listed as the institution’s chairman. He was apparently appointed to sign college documents provided by Satender Kumar, who was running the institution. A September 21, 2026, investigation by The Indian Express, citing police, reported that documents recovered from the premises included allegedly fake marksheets, examination records, student identity cards, admission forms and attendance records. The preliminary investigation reportedly revealed documents indicating the enrolment of 54 students, although police found no indication that students had actually attended classes at the site. The report also stated that five people had been arrested at that stage. These findings were reported as part of the ongoing police investigation.
During the case hearing in the court, Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj suggested that UGC warn people against joining or taking admission in any educational institution without checking if it is authentic and legally registered. The SC agreed and directed UGC and other regulatory bodies to issue public warnings. The Bench agreed with the decision and stated
We find the suggestion to be useful, and accordingly, a direction is issued to the UGC and all the regulatory authorities to issue such public advisory to act accordingly.
This decision is passed in favour of students and provides ease to them in verifying college before taking admission.
According to the reports, the police have already taken necessary actions after the allegation surfaced. Action has been initiated against Satender Kumar and three other people involved in the fraud. A police investigation is going on, but an independent inquiry has also been launched to investigate the case. The Supreme Court was informed that the Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary had ordered an independent inquiry alongside the police investigation. The Bench observed that the inquiry was necessary to expose the alleged fraud and could help inform measures to prevent similar incidents. The court also recorded its appreciation of the state government's response. According to Bar and Bench, the matter was scheduled for its next hearing on November 19, 2026. These are separated from SC’s direction to regulators to issue public advisory.
Before taking admission in any educational institution, students should check if that particular college or the course they are pursuing is authorized by the relevant statutory body. For medical education, consider checking the National Medical Commission (NMC). There are other regulatory bodies for courses related to Ayurveda, nursing and pharmacy.
Students can consult the following official resources to verify institutions and course approvals:
Universities: University Grants Commission (UGC), including its list of fake universities.
MBBS and postgraduate medical courses: National Medical Commission (NMC), which provides lists of colleges offering these courses.
Pharmacy courses: Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), which publishes information on approved institutions.
Nursing courses: Indian Nursing Council (INC), which publishes lists of recognised nursing institutions and programmes.
Ayurveda courses: National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM), which publishes information on permitted Ayurveda colleges.
Students should refrain from trusting solely on college advertisements, course lists and their claims. They should check the authenticity directly through the relevant regulator’s official website before paying any amount to the institution.
The recognition of an institution and the approval of a specific professional course are not necessarily the same. Students should verify the institution, the particular course, its affiliation and the applicable regulatory approval for the relevant academic year before enrolling.
(Rh/AM)