SC directs Centre, NMC to churn out solution for Ukraine, China returned students

The Supreme Court has asked the Centre and the National Medical Commission (NMC) to work up on solutions for the foreign-returned undergraduate medical students. Concerning the situation of the students who returned from countries like Ukraine and China, SC said it is crucial to churn out solutions at the earliest else their careers will be left in the lurch. 

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 a solution by experts. We refrain from issuing directions. We request the 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.

She said academic studies



cannot take the color 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 that 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 online." The top court said it is in full agreement with the Centre that academic training cannot take place of practical training. "However, the parents of the students must have spent a huge amount in the study and if no solution is found, their entire career could be left in the lurch apart from families put at sufferance," the bench said.

The Centre had earlier said it cannot accommodate the medical students studying in universities of Ukraine, who have returned to the country due to war there, in Indian medical institutes or universities as it "would disrupt the entire medical education system" here. The top court was hearing a batch of petitions filed by undergraduate medical students of first to fourth-year batches in their respective foreign medical colleges/universities.