New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the National Medical Commission to examine the issue of mandatory rural service for doctors after completion of their MBBS course.
A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe passed the order while hearing a petition which raised the issue of mandatory rural service for doctors.
“We direct the National Medical Commission (NMC) to examine the issue of mandatory rural service for doctors who complete their MBBS course,” the bench said.
It posted the matter for hearing on December 8.
In May 2024, the top court had agreed to hear the petition filed by some MBBS students who were graduating from private seats of a deemed university in Karnataka.
The petitioners have sought a direction to the Commissionerate, Health and Family Welfare Services, Government of Karnataka, to issue them the required no objection certificate without subjecting them to swear an affidavit of compulsory rural service.
The petitioners have said that the Karnataka government had enacted the Karnataka Compulsory Service Training by Candidates Completed Medical Courses Act, 2012, and subsequently enacted the Karnataka Compulsory Service Training by Candidates Completed Medical Course Rules, 2015.
The plea said the combined effect of the Act and the Rules “mandates that every MBBS graduate, every post-graduate (diploma or degree) and every super specialty candidate who have pursued their course of study either in a government university or on a government seat in a private/deemed university, must fulfil a mandatory obligation to render one year of compulsory public rural service prior to being eligible for permanent registration with the Karnataka Medical Council”.
Referring to a July 28, 2023 notification issued by the Commissionerate, the plea said it includes candidates enrolled on private seats in private/deemed universities.
