Supreme Court Directs Centre, NMC To Find Solution To Accommodate Students Returned From Foreign Countries

SC said that it hoped the Centre will give due importance to its suggestion and find out a solution to save the career of the students.

The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Centre and the National Medical Commission (NMC) to find out a solution to accommodate those undergraduate medical students who have returned from foreign countries like Ukraine and China, saying their careers will be left in the lurch if no solution is found at this stage. A bench of justices B R Gavai and Vikram Nath said if necessary, the Centre may appoint a committee of experts to find a solution to the problem of the students. The top court said it hoped the Centre will give due importance to its suggestion and find out a solution to save the career of the students who are an asset to the country.

"If no solution is found, their entire career could be left in the lurch apart from families put in sufferance. "We find that this is a fit case for solution by experts. We refrain from issuing directions. We request Union of India, in consultation with National Medical Council to find out a solution to address this human problem," the bench said. The top court noted that most of the students have completed their courses but have not been able to undergo their clinical training. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Centre, submitted that in the medical courses, practical training is of utmost importance.

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She said academic studies cannot take the colour of practical training and said the decision of not incorporating the students has been taken after consulting the Ministry of Health, Home and External Affairs. The apex court said, "They are justified in observing that the court does not possess expertise. However, there are myriad situations which are beyond control like Covid which have been unimaginable. "It is after a century that humanity had to face such a situation. We find that the career of almost 500 students who have already put in five years of study are at stake. They have completed seven semesters physically and three semesters through online."