Do Rich MBBS Students From Pvt Colleges Have No Obligation Of Nation Building, SC Asks

The Supreme Court issued notice in petition filed against Karnataka govt's notification that makes it mandatory for the medical students from private colleges to serve in rural areas to get permanent registration

SC Judge remarked that just because a student studies in a private college, they would not exempt the person from working in rural areas.

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The Supreme Court on Wednesday while hearing the petition filed against Karnataka government's notification that makes it mandatory for the medical students to serve at least one year in rural areas in order to be eligible for permanent registration with the state's Medical Council, asked if the rich students from private colleges have no obligation towards nation building.

At the outset of the hearing, Justice PS Narasimha remarked that just because a student studies in a private college, they would not exempt the person from working in rural areas.

“Private people have no obligation to nation building? Just because you go and study in a private hospital...you have an exemption from working in rural areas? What is this which gives you an exemption just because you studied in a private medical college that you cannot work in rural areas?” Justice Narasimha asked.

A bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Sanjay Karol issued notice in a writ petition, but expressed displeasure at the argument that a student who has studied in a private medical college and paid for the degree cannot be asked to serve in rural areas. 

The counsel appearing for petitioners submitted that there were language issues and other barriers.

Justice Narasimha was quick to reply: “So what? It is a beautiful thing that you go somewhere else and work. You walk up and down India and work in different rural areas."

The scheme in question makes it compulsory for every MBBS graduate, every Post-Graduate (Diploma or Degree), and every Super Specialty candidate who has pursued their course of study either in a government university or on a government seat in a private university to provide compulsory public service in rural areas for one year.

They will be granted No-objection certificate (NOC) only after fulfilling this condition. This NOC will make them eligible for permanent registration with the Karnataka Medical Council.

In July 2023, by a government notification this requirement was extended to candidates enrolled in private seats in private universities.