SC directs AMU to pay internship stipend arrears to 11 foreign medical graduates within 2 weeks
A bench, comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Aravind Kumar, was hearing the plea filed by 11 FMGs who completed their primary medical education from foreign institutions and are undergoing their internship at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh, a constituent college of AMU.
The petitioners, represented by Advocate Charu Mathur, challenged the non-payment of stipends to them, while Indian Medical Graduates (IMGs) at AMU receive Rs. 26,300 per month during their Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI).
The bench directed AMU to disburse the stipend of Rs. 26,300 per month to the petitioners within two weeks, ensuring parity with IMGs.
As per the plea, FMGs interning at other central universities like Banaras Hindu University (BHU) are also paid the same stipend, whereas FMGs at AMU have not received any stipend, amounting to discrimination.
The petition highlighted Clause 3 (Schedule IV) of the National Medical Commission (Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship) Regulations, 2021, which mandates stipend payment to all medical interns as fixed by the appropriate authority.
The plea stated that despite having funds allocated under the salary head, with an available balance of Rs 83.31 crore as per AMU's Annual Report for 2023-2024, the university has delayed the stipend payment. The total arrears due to the 11 petitioners for 12 months amounts to Rs. 34,71,600.
The petition alleged that AMU has unjustifiably delayed disbursal by repeatedly corresponding with the UGC seeking additional funds, despite the UGC's clarification that stipends are to be paid from the salary grant (OH-36).
Notably, the bench led by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia is also examining the issue of non-payment of stipends to FMGs interning at Mahaveer Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhopal.
Earlier in 2024, the Supreme Court had directed the National Medical Commission (NMC) to submit details regarding stipend status across medical colleges in all states.
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