Postgraduate medical students sitting idle a “national waste”: Kerala High Court
The court has directed the State to decide on creating supernumerary posts for 23 postgraduates to serve as Senior Residents under their compulsory medical bond, with the residency period to start from the date of result publication
The Kerala High Court has deemed the inactivity of postgraduate medical students a "national waste," as per a recent ruling. The court directed the State government to resolve the issue of creating supernumerary posts for 23 medical postgraduates who are serving their one-year Medical Education Service as Senior Residents. The students had filed writ petitions questioning the enforceability of the compulsory service bonds required for admission to Post Graduate Medical Courses in Government Medical Colleges in Kerala.
They argued that the bond period should commence from the date of result publication, rather than the date of service commencement. The petitioners also sought the release of their original certificates, a transparent listing of available posts in government medical colleges, and a timely, transparent mechanism for allotment of posts.
The court found that the students, who have been idle for nearly eight months after the result publication, were being deprived of their stipend and any opportunity to work in other hospitals. Despite COVID-19 causing an overlap of two batches eligible for compulsory government service, only 600 senior residency vacancies were available, while 1,000 postgraduates had completed their course.
The State had proposed creating supernumerary posts, but the court emphasized the importance of addressing the postgraduate students' situation as a matter of national concern.
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