SC to hear pleas in July on non-payment of MBBS Intern stipends and NEET-PG 2025 two-shift policy
The matter was mentioned on Monday before a bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih by counsel representing the aggrieved students.
The counsel informed the Court that despite a prior listing before Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia on May 19, the matter did not come up for hearing. 'Students are getting zero stipend,' the advocate submitted, urging the bench to take up the matter on priority.
In response, CJI Gavai confirmed that the matter would be listed during the working period of the summer vacation when Justice Dhulia's bench is sitting in July.
CJI Gavai asked, 'When is he (Justice Dhulia) supposed to sit in vacation?'
Counsel replied, 'July.'
CJI Gavai said, 'Then we will list it before him.'
The issue of unpaid stipends has been under the Court's scrutiny since April 2024, when it directed the National Medical Commission (NMC) to submit comprehensive details regarding stipend disbursement across all medical colleges in India.
The Court observed that the NMC had failed to provide full data as per its earlier directive dated September 15, 2023.
That order had specifically sought a tabulated chart outlining (i) whether approximately 70% of medical colleges were paying no or inadequate stipends to interns, and (ii) the steps the NMC was taking to enforce stipend compliance.
In parallel, the bench of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice K Vinod Chandran is also hearing a related petition regarding the non-payment of stipends to Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) undergoing internships at Indian hospitals and medical institutions.
The same hearing also saw the mentioning of a separate but related plea challenging the National Board of Examinations' (NBE) decision to conduct NEET-PG 2025 in two shifts.
Petitioners argue that such a move introduces an element of unfairness, as the difficulty level of question papers may vary between shifts, potentially disadvantaging one set of candidates.
The petition calls for the NEET-PG 2025 to be held in a single shift to ensure 'just, fair, reasonable and equitable' conditions for all aspirants.
The counsel pointed out that during NEET-PG 2024, it was alleged that the second shift had easier questions, leading to widespread concern among candidates.
The issue was first mentioned before the bench led by CJI Gavai on May 23, and the Court had agreed to hear it in the last week of May. However, it will now be clubbed for hearing in July along with the stipend-related petitions.
Both matters are expected to significantly impact thousands of medical students and graduates across the country and will be closely watched when taken up by the apex court after the summer vacation.
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