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The Madhya Pradesh High Court has deferred a pivotal hearing involving nine Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) who are contesting the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) imposition of an additional two-year “clerkship” requirement beyond the standard one-year compulsory internship. The hearing, initially scheduled for June 19, 2025, was not taken up and is now slated for June 23, 2025.
The petitioners, comprising FMGs who completed their MBBS studies in China and Ukraine, faced disruptions in their education due to one year of online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. They argue that the NMC’s decision to extend their internship period by two years—a requirement termed as “clerkship”—was imposed without clear justification and with little prior notice. Notably, the students were informed in November 2024, just four months before their expected internship completion in March 2025, that their term had been extended by an additional year, prompting them to seek judicial intervention.
During the previous hearing on May 19, 2025, a Division Bench of Justices Sanjeev Sachdeva and Vinay Saraf questioned the NMC on the rationale behind the extended clerkship. The Bench observed that the reasoning for the additional two years was not clearly explained. The NMC has since sought time to file a detailed affidavit, which is expected to be reviewed in the upcoming hearing.
The high court had earlier granted interim relief to the petitioners, allowing them to provisionally appear for the NEET-PG 2025 examination, likely to be held on August 3, 2025. However, the court made it clear that their results would not be declared without its express permission and that no special equity would arise from the interim order.
The FMGs have also contended that the 2023 circular cited by the NMC and the Madhya Pradesh Medical Council was intended for students returning from Ukraine and the Philippines, and should not apply to those from China.
With the next hearing set for June 23, 2025, the court’s decision will be crucial in determining whether these FMGs can proceed with the NEET-PG 2025 process and whether their claim—that they have already compensated for the loss of hands-on training during their final year—will be accepted.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on available information as of June 21, 2025, and is intended for informational purposes only. Readers are advised to refer to official court documents and statements for the most accurate and updated details regarding the case. The views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the author or the publisher.
