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14. The core issue in the present appeal, therefore, is whether the decision of the State Government, dated 5.9.2019, falls within one of the excepted categories. The first excepted category is where the appellant had obtained the Essentiality Certificate by playing fraud on the State Government. It is well­settled that fraud vitiates any act or order passed by any quasi­judicial authority, even if no power of review is conferred upon it, as held in paragraph 34 of the decision in Indian National Congress (I) (supra) in the following words: ­ “34. Coming to the first exception, it is almost settled law that fraud vitiates any act or order passed by any quasi­ judicial authority even if no power of review is conferred upon it. In fact, fraud vitiates all actions. In Smith v. East Elloe Rural Distt. Council [(1956) 1 All ER 855], it was stated that the effect of fraud would normally be to vitiate all acts and orders. In Indian Bank v. Satyam Fibres (India) (P) Ltd. [(1996) 5 SCC 550] it was held that a power to cancel/recall an order which has been obtained by forgery or fraud applies not only to courts of law, but also to statutory tribunals which do not have power of review. Thus, fraud or forgery practised by a political party while obtaining a registration, if comes to the notice of the Election Commission, it is open to the Commission to deregister such a political party.” As to when it would be a case of fraud played on the State Government, would depend on whether it was an attempt by the appellant to present facts, so as to misrepresent the State. The fraud can either be actual or constructive fraud. The actual fraud is a concealment or false representation through an intentional or reckless statement or conduct that injures another who relies on it in acting, whereas the constructive fraud is unintentional deception or misrepresentation that causes injury to another. The actual or constructive fraud as predicated in Black’s Law Dictionary16 is as follows: ­ “actual fraud. A concealment or false representation through an intentional or reckless statement or conduct that injures another who relies on it in acting. – Also termed fraud in fact; positive fraud; moral fraud.” “constructive fraud. 1. Unintentional deception or misrepresentation that causes injury to another. 2. Fraud in law. Fraud that is presumed under the circumstances, without regard to intent, usu. through statutorily created inference.  Fraud may be presumed, for example, when a debtor transfers assets and thereby impairs creditors’ efforts to collect sums due. This type of fraud arises by operation of law, from conduct that, if sanctioned, would (either in the particular circumstance or in common experience) secure an unconscionable advantage, irrespective of evidence of an actual intent to defraud. – Also termed legal fraud; fraud in contemplation of law; equitable fraud; fraud in equity.” It may be also useful to advert to the meaning of “actionable fraud” in the Sixth Edition of the same Law dictionary, as follows:

16. Such circumstances reckoned by the State, by no stretch of imagination, can be disregarded as irrelevant, intangible or imaginary. Rather, the totality of the situation reinforces the fact that the appellant­College had failed and neglected to discharge its commitment given to the State at the relevant time; and is incapable of fulfilling the minimum norms specified by the MCI for starting and running a medical college. It had thus misrepresented the State Government at the relevant time by giving a sanguine hope of ensuring installation of minimum infrastructure and setting up of a robust organisational structure for running of a medical college “in a time bound programme”. Therefore, it can be safely deduced that it is a case of constructive fraud played upon the State Government. For, even after lapse of over five years from the date of issuance of Essentiality Certificate (27.8.2014), the appellant­College is not in a position to secure the requisite permission(s) from the MCI and the Central Government to run a medical college as per the scheme.