T.Gnanasree v. The Dental Council Of India
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 18.08.2025
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE C.KUMARAPPAN Writ Petition No.20658 of 2025 T.Gnanasree ... Petitioner ..Vs..
1.The Dental Council of India, Rep by its Joint Secretary, A Statutory Body, Constituted Under the Dentist Act, 1948, National Dental Commission Building, Plot No.14, Sector 9, R.K.Puram, New Delhi - 110 022.
2.The Academic Officer, The Tamil Nadu Dr.M.G.R.Medical University, No.69, Anna Salai, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032. 3.The Principal, Priyadarshini Dental College and Hospital, No.1, VGR Garden, VGR Nagar, Pandur, Thiruvallur-631 203.
... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, praying to issue a writ of Mandamus to direct the respondents to permit the petitioner to undergo Rotary Paid Internship course before completion of September 2025 as per the order dated 05.05.2025 by the 1st respondent. 1/7
For Petitioner :
Mr.K.Sannjay For Respondents : Mr.Subramanian Vaidyanathan For R1 Mr.A.Mohamed Gouse, Standing Counsel for R2 Ms.Kavitha Deenadayalan for R3
ORDER
The present writ petition has been filed with a prayer for mandamus directing the respondents to permit the petitioner to undergo Rotary Paid Internship Course before completion of September 2025, as per the order dated 05.05.2025 passed by the 1st respondent.
2. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner participated in NEET 2016 and was selected in the course for Bachelor of Dental Surgeon, subsequently joining the third respondent's college in 2016 and completing the course in 2021. It is further submitted that, after completion of the course, the petitioner was unable to pursue the mandatory Compulsory Rotatory Paid Internship (CRPI) within the stipulated time due to the demise of her father, and the emergence of the Covid-19 Pandamic, and 2/7
her own health issues. In spite of the same, the respondent has not issued any order permitting the petitioner to pursue the Compulsory Roatory Paid Internship Course. Hence, the present petition has been filed.
3. Per contra, Mr.Subramanian Vaidyanathan learned counsel appearing on behalf of the first respondent vehemently contended that as per the BDS Course Regulations, 2007, any student who fails to complete the BDS Course, including the one-year Compulsory Rotatory Paid Internship within a total period of nine years is liable to be discharged from the course. In the case on hand, the petitioner joined the course in September 2016 and completed her course during September 2021. Accordingly, she had time until September 2025 to complete the course in its entirety, including the internship. However, the petitioner has approached this Court only in June 2025, leaving insufficient time to complete the mandatory internship within the prescribed nine-year period. Permitting the petitioner to commence the CRRI at this stage would be contrary to the BDS Course Regulations, 2007, which explicitly require completion of the entire course within the stipulated time frame. Hence, the learned counsel prays to dismiss the writ petition. 3/7
4. The above submission was reiterated by the learned Standing Counsel appearing on behalf of the second and third respondents.
5. I have given my anxious consideration to either side submissions and also perused the materials placed on record.
6. The following facts are not in dispute:
The petitioner joined the BDS course in September 2016 and completed the course during September 2021. According to the BDS Course Regulations, 2007, a student is required to complete the entire course, including the one-year Compulsory Rotatory Paid Internship (CRPI), within a maximum period of nine years from the date of joining which ends by September 2025. However, the petitioner approached this Court only in June 2025 seeking permission to join the compulsory rotatory paid internship. If such permission is granted at this stage, the petitioner would be unable to complete the internship within the stipulated nine-year period. Consequently, any direction issued by allowing her to proceed with the compulsory rotatory 4/7
paid internship would be in violation of the BDS Course Regulations, 2007. Since these Regulations have not been challenged, this Court is not empowered to issue any order in contravention to the BDS Course Regulations, 2007. Therefore, this Court does not find any merits in the present writ petition.
7. In the result, the present writ petition is dismissed. No costs. 18.08.2025 ssi Index : Yes Speaking Order : Yes/No 5/7
To:
1.The Joint Secretary, Dental Council of India, A Statutory Body, Constituted Under the Dentist Act, 1948, National Dental Commission Building, Plot No.14, Sector 9, R.K.Puram, New Delhi - 110 022. 2.The Academic Officer, The Tamil Nadu Dr.M.G.R.Medical University, No.69, Anna Salai, Guindy, Chennai - 600 032. 3.The Principal, Priyadarshini Dental College and Hospital, No.1, VGR Garden, VGR Nagar, Pandur, Thiruvallur-631 203. 6/7
C.KUMARAPPAN, J.
ssi W.P.No.20658 of 2025 18.08.2025 7/7