Priyanka Singh
Published on: September 14, 2022 at 20:40 IST
The Supreme Court issued a notice on Monday in a plea seeking directions against the Army College of Medical Science for not paying stipend to the students of MBBS who are undergoing the one-year mandatory internship.
The bench, comprising Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Hima Kohli, while issuing the notice, asked Col. Bala Subramanium to look into the issue.
The petition holds that the non-payment is contrary to the Clause 3, Schedule IV of the National Medical Commission (Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship) Regulations, 2021, which entitles the petition and the students to a regular stipend.
It submitted that the other colleges affiliated to the Guru Gobind Indraprastha University do receive regular stipend on contrary to the Army College of Medical Sciences, hence, proving it to be arbitrary and unjust. [Abhishek Yadav vs. Army College Of Medical Sciences & Anr.]
The petition stated important facts to reason the practice of regular stipend to the students.
It submitted the fact that the majority of the students undergoing the internship are non-residents of Delhi and, thus, have to arrange for their accommodation, food, and other expenses to sustain in a top-tier city like Delhi.
Moreover, the EMI for education loans has begun from, April, 2022, making it necessary to pay regular stipends. Also, the students shall require travel expenses to continue working at Najafgarh for their rural postings.
The date of internship had begun from 01.04.2022, since when there has not been even basic payment being made to the students.
Thus, the petition seeks the Supreme Court to direct the college to follow the standard stipend norms as followed by the other medical colleges.