Students Who Returned From Ukraine Can't Be Accomodated In Indian Universities: Centre To SC

Ukraine Returned Students: Thousands of Indian students studying MBBS in Ukraine had to abandon their studies and leave the war-torn country after Russia invaded in February.

Medical students who returned from Ukraine protest at Jantar Mantar

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The government told the Supreme Court on Thursday that students who returned from Ukraine after Russia invaded the country cannot be accommodated in Indian universities as there was no provision for it in the National Medical Commission Act, Live Law reported. 

The government said such relaxation would hamper standards of medical education in India.

"Students went to foreign countries due to two reasons -- poor merit in NEET and affordability. Allowing poor merit students in premier medical colleges in India can lead to other litigations. Also, they won't be able to afford the fee structure," the government said.

The affidavit was filed by the secretary of the Health Ministry while responding to a batch of petitions seeking relief for Indian students who had to abandon their medical courses in Ukraine midway.

READ | Relief For Indian Medical Students As NMC Gives 'No Objection' To Ukraine's 'Mobility Program'

Thousands of Indian students studying MBBS in Ukraine had to abandon their studies and leave the war-torn country after Russia invaded in February. The Indian government organised special flights to evacuate over 22,000 Indians from Ukraine.

The Centre also stated that it had taken pro-active measures to assist the Ukraine-returned students while balancing the need to maintain the requisite standard of medical education in the country, Live Law reported.

"Any further relaxation in this regard, including the prayer seeking transfer of these returnee students to Medical colleges in India would not only be dehors the provisions of Indian Medical Council Act 1956 and the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 as well as the regulations made thereunder, but would also seriously hamper the standards of medical education in the country," the Centre told the apex court.

Earlier this month, the National Medical Council (NMC) had given its "no-objection" to the academic mobility program being offered by the Ukrainian government for foreign medical students.

Some Ukrainian universities, which are in the worst-hit war zones, have asked foreign students to take up the "mobility" or transfer programs. The next semester in most varsities has begun from September 1.

The Ukrainian universities have tied up with certain institutes in the rest of Europe where they will continue to study as their exchange students. However, they will remain students of the Ukrainian university that they are enrolled in and the degree will be awarded by the parent university.