The Supreme Court on September 17 directed the National Medical Commission (NMC) to verify whether stipends have been paid to foreign medical graduates (FMGs) in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat and Jharkhand.
A bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice M. Pancholi passed the direction after petitioners alleged that an NMC affidavit falsely stated that all FMGs had received their stipends. Advocate Tanvi Dubey, appearing for 13 petitioners, submitted that several interns were still awaiting payment.
The Court directed the NMC to verify the claims and file a final affidavit. Justice Kumar warned that if the affidavit was found to be incorrect, the NMC Director could be summoned.
Counsel Charu Mathur also submitted that an analysis of NMC data covering 443 colleges showed that only around half were paying stipends to interns.
The Court expressed strong concern over States allegedly making interns work without payment. It warned Rajasthan that if the ordered payments were not released, the Secretary, Ministry of Health and Welfare, would have to appear and explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated.
Counsels for Rajasthan and Gujarat assured the Court that funds would be released.
The bench also took note of the alleged disparity between stipends paid to Indian medical graduates and FMGs. In Jharkhand, for instance, Indian graduates were allegedly receiving Rs 30,000, while FMGs received Rs 17,500.
Justice Kumar indicated that the Court intends to pass comprehensive directions ensuring parity in stipends for all undergraduate medical interns, irrespective of where they completed their medical education.
The bench observed that there should be no disparity merely because an intern completed medical education abroad, noting that both categories are doctors. It also indicated that the Court may consider mechanisms for ensuring compliance, including whether an authority headed by a retired judge should be entrusted with monitoring stipend-related issues.
The proceedings arise from a batch of petitions concerning the non-payment and disparity of stipends to foreign medical graduates undertaking internships in India.
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