A two-judge bench said that the Centre could appoint an expert committee to find a solution to the students' problem so that their careers would not be affected.
Undergraduate medical students, who were forced to flee countries, moved the Supreme Court seeking an order to admit them in Indian medical colleges. (File photo/Supplied)
The Supreme Court on Friday, 9 December, directed the Centre and the National Medical Commission (NMC) to find 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 a lurch if no solution is found at this stage.
A bench of justices BR Gavai and Vikram Nath said that, if necessary, the Centre may appoint a committee of experts to find a solution to the students’ problem.
The top court said that it hoped the Centre will give due importance to its suggestion and find out a solution to save the careers of the students, who are an asset to the country.
“If no solution is found, their entire career could be left in a lurch, apart from families put in sufferance,” the bench said.
“We find that this is a fit case for solution by experts. We refrain from issuing directions. We request the Union of India, in consultation with the National Medical Council, to find out a solution to address this human problem,” the bench added.
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 medical courses, practical training is of utmost importance.
She said that academic studies cannot take the colour of practical training and said that 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 has 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,” the bench noted.
The top court said that it is in full agreement with the Centre that academic training cannot take the place of practical training. “However, the parents of the students must have spent huge amounts and if no solution is found, their entire career could be left in lurch, apart from families put at sufferance,” the bench said.
The Centre had earlier said that 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.
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