The Madhya Pradesh High Court has decided to conduct daily hearings from July 3, signalling the seriousness of what it described as a “sensitive issue in the health sector.”

A division bench of Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice DK Paliwal passed the order earlier this week, treating the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Vishal Baghel as the lead case. The scam is also under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

During the hearing, Justice Sreedharan was visibly shaken by the material presented, including photographs and order sheets revealing the dismal condition of several colleges. In one instance, a single building was shown displaying boards for an engineering, B.Ed., and nursing college—interchanged at will. Some colleges existed only on plastic signage, without any real infrastructure.

“Oh my god… Has the court seen these photos before? What is happening?” the judge exclaimed. Expressing outrage, he remarked, “There should be capital punishment for people doing this. We forgive murders because they are often crimes of passion, but these are premeditated offences.”

The bench noted that the scam represents a deep-rooted failure in the system and poses a serious threat to the future of healthcare in the state. It pulled up officials from the Indian Nursing Council and the Madhya Pradesh Nursing Council for persistent non-compliance. Despite 48 hearings and 96 exemptions, crucial documents are yet to be submitted.

The judges warned that such deliberate obstruction would be considered “interference in the judicial process.” The court had earlier expressed its displeasure over the continued absence of council representatives.

The petitioner, Vishal Baghel, has alleged that officials are actively sabotaging the probe and shielding those operating fraudulent institutions. Since the CBI took over, the number of recognised nursing colleges in the state has dropped from over 600 to around 200—raising serious concerns about the regulatory oversight that once allowed them to function.

“This case isn’t just about education; it’s about the collapse of healthcare standards in our country. We are heading towards destruction,” Justice Sreedharan warned.

As per the news resources, petitioner Baghel said, “This was the first time the case was heard by the new bench. When we presented a three-year briefing, the court took immediate and serious note of the matter.”