The Supreme Court has said that the Medical Council of India, MCI is not empowered to grant recognition to medical colleges and this power lies with the Central government. A bench headed by Justice Altamas Kabir said that the role of the MCI in grant of recognition to a medical college or institution is recommendatory. The apex court said, there is no provision in the MCI Act relating to grant of sanction. The bench set aside a Delhi High Court order which held that permission granted by the MCI to run a medical college amounts to recognition.