Telangana High Court allows medical student facing criminal charges to take exams

The court states that Dr MA Saiff Ali must undergo special training, if required, by the University or College, before being allowed to sit for the exams

Hyderabad: A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court on Wednesday upheld a single judge’s decision allowing Dr MA Saiff Ali, a medical student facing criminal charges, to appear in the upcoming PG Degree (MD/MS) Regular Examinations this month.
The bench, consisting of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J Sreenivas Rao, was hearing a writ appeal filed by Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences, which had challenged the earlier order. The single judge had directed the University to mark Dr Saiff Ali’s attendance from February 20, 2023, to October 3, 2023, during which his suspension was under dispute. The suspension had been set aside by the court. Dr Saiff Ali had sought restoration of his attendance, which had been reduced due to the suspension. The University had argued that the student’s attendance shortage made him ineligible to sit for the exams.

The bench, however, ruled that the suspension order was invalid due to violations of principles of natural justice and regulations. While upholding the decision, the court modified the order, stating that Dr Saiff Ali must undergo special training, if required, by the University or College, before being allowed to sit for the exams.

Dr Saiff Ali is facing criminal charges related to the alleged ragging and subsequent suicide of Dr Dharavath Preethi while both were students at the Kakatiya Medical College, Warangal.