The Hon’ble Supreme Court on Friday asked the National Medical Commission to respond to the complaints by medical interns regarding non payment of stipend.
The petition was filed by medical interns seeking payment of stipend by Army College of Medical Sciences.
The college is run by Army Welfare Education Society (AWES) and is a non profit institution with an intention to serve the children of the army personnels.
The respondent pointed out that the college has not been receiving any governmental aid. It’s a non profit institution affiliated to Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, and has also reduced its fees. The Court must consider it’s survival as a factor in deciding upon the case.
The bench led by hon’ble Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud opined that even though it’s a non profit institution, it cannot just extract work from young doctors and pay them nothing. Even the Supreme Court pays ₹80, 000 per month to law clerks, then they should pay atleast a lakh.
When asked to the petitioner about the minimum stipend, it stated ₹25, 000 per month as there are 100 interns at the college now. The Court asked the college to pay in lump sum for the previous batches. It granted the liberty to the college to approach the Fee Regulatory Committee, Delhi where it can decide the enchancement of fees.
It also came to the Court’s notice that around 70% of colleges are not paying stipend to its interns. The bench strictly stated that payment of stipend to interns is mandatory regulation of NMC and that should not be breached.
The bench asked NMC to respond to the following
a) Whether these complaints are true or not
b) What steps will it take to ensure that stipend is being paid.
Senior Advocate Colonel (Rtd.) R Balasubramanium appeared for ACMS.
The issue of medical interns have been regularly coming up where they demand for reduction in college fees Or non payment of stipend. National Medical Commission is a body that has been brought in by Parliamentary Act known as National Medical Commission Act, 2019. Chaired by Dr. Suresh Chandra Sharma, NMC functions as a regulating body for ensuring efficient quality of medical education, availability of high quality medical professionals and equitable and good healthcare facilities are provided through the country.
Written by – Tannu, College-Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Semester- 3 , an intern under Legal Vidhiya
0 Comments