Supreme Court Issues Notice To Army College of Medical Sciences For Unpaid Compulsory Internships

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Synopsis

The petitioners contended that, they were facing hardships in sustaining in the city, during the compulsory 1 year internship.

On Monday, a bench of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice Hima Kohli, heard a plea for non-payment of stipend to students who completed their MBBS, from the Army College of Medical Sciences (ACMS), New Delhi. On finding a situation where medical students were unpaid, Justice Chandrachud exclaimed,

"You know, these students are the ones who complete their MBBS from ACMS, and are not given stipends for internships. Why?".

In the petition, before the Court, Clause 3 (Schedule IV) of the National Medical Commission (Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship) Regulations, 2021, was relied on, on the basis of which it was contended, that during their 1 year compulsory internship, they are  entitled for a stipend during the internship period. 

Notably the Regulations provide a provision for stipends to all medical students, where the appropriate authority has to fix an applicable stipend for a period that 'may be for 52 weeks (12 months)'. 

It was the submission of the petitioners (students), that they sought their admission in the College through NEET, and after clearing such a competitive  exam, they managed a seat in the College (affiliated to the Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University). And further claimed, that they were facing hardship as they have to take care of their accommodation, food and other expenses during the one-year internship in Delhi. Citing many other reasons, the students raised their grievance. The plea thus seeks the Court to issue suitable directions against the respondent in furtherance of the same.

CASE TITLE: Abhishek Yadav and Ors. vs. Army College of Medical Sciences and Anr.