7 years of Commission Service, Rs 67 lakh bond penalty: AFMS Bond policy for MBBS candidates 2024

Pune: MBBS aspirants getting admitted to the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune this year will have to compulsorily serve as Medical Officers in the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) after completing their course. As per the service liability bond agreement, which is mandatory to be submitted by the interested candidates at the time of admission, the candidates will be liable to pay a bond amount of Rs 67 lakhs if they leave the college after seven days of admission and do not fulfil the compulsory service requirements.

There has been an increase of Rs 2 lakh in the bond money set by AFMC. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that last year MBBS aspirants were required to pay a bond fee of Rs 65 lakh and the year before that the bond amount was Rs 61 lakh.

"If a candidate, who has been granted Commission in AFMS on completion of MBBS course, applies for release from service within 7 (seven) years of grant of the said commission, and provided his/her release is sanctioned by the Government as per rules in force, he/she shall will be liable to pay the amount of the Bond Money at a rate proportionate to each year or part thereof unfulfilled liability, limited to the total Bond money of Rs 67,00,000/- (Rupees Sixty Seven Lakhs only)," stated joining instructions for admission to MBBS course at AFMC, Pune- 2024 Session.

Service Liability Bond Agreement: 

AFMC clarified that "Candidates admitted to AFMC for MBBS course have compulsory liability to serve as Medical Officers in the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) on completion of the course."

√ For this, a Service Liability Bond Agreement is required to be submitted at the time of admission. This agreement will be signed and executed by Parents/Guardians and Candidates at the time of admission.

"AFMC, Pune will make necessary arrangements for providing the non-judicial stamp paper of Rs 500/- (Rupees Five Hundred Only) and obtaining the signature of the Notary. The cost of the stamp paper and Notary charges will be borne by the candidates. If the candidate is a major i.e., above 18 years of age, one parent or guardian is required to sign the bond agreement apart from the candidate. If the candidate is a minor i.e., below 18 years of age, both parents and two Guardians are required to sign the bond agreement," AFMC mentioned.

√ Apart from this, the institute has also clarified that failing to submit the agreement at the time of admission to the college will entail cancellation of admission. 

√ AFMC has further mentioned that the Bond Money for the candidates admitted in the year 2024 is Rs 67,00,000/- (Rupees SixtySeven Lakh only).

"It is to be noted that on being declared Non-Service Liability (NSL), at any point of time during the course, for any reason other than medical grounds (beyond the control of the candidate), the candidate will not be allowed to continue further studies till the payment of the Bond Money is made. In addition to payment of the Bond Money, the cost of training, tuition fees and other charges, as applicable will also have to be paid for further period of study required to complete the course from the date of being declared NSL," it further mentioned.

√ As per the bond agreement mentioned in the joining instructions, the candidate will not be allowed to withdraw his/ her admission from the college after 04:00PM of the seventh day from the date of admission. Any candidate withdrawing from college after 04:00PM of the seventh calendar day from the date of admission will be liable to pay the bond money at a rate proportionate to the amount of time they have trained in the institute limited to the total Bond money of Rs. 67,00,000/- (Rupees Sixty-Seven Lakhs only) as per the Service Liability Bond Agreement executed at the time of admission.

√ If a candidate, who has been granted Commission in AFMS on completion of MBBS course, applies for release from service within 7 (seven) years of grant of the said commission, and provided his/her release is sanctioned by the Government as per rules in force, he/she shall will be liable to pay the amount of the Bond Money at a rate proportionate to each year or part thereof unfulfilled liability, limited to the total Bond money of Rs 67,00,000/- (Rupees Sixty Seven Lakhs only), the bond service terms further mentioned.

√ As per AFMC, a candidate can become Non-Servoce Liability (NSL) on being rendered medically unfit for commission, by a Medical Board, due to any disease/ disability detected at any stage during the training or prior to commissioning.

However, if he/she is declared medically unfit due to any disease/ circumstances beyond his/ her control and he/she does not refuse treatment, then he/she may be permitted to continue the course on approval of Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) and on payment of cost of training as applicable from the day he/she is declared NSL.

"Current cost of training is Rs 28,166/-per week. The cost of training may be revised in future from time to time based on training cost approved by the Government," mentioned the bond agreement.

Surety Bond for Candidates/Medical Students Selected for MBBS Course at the AFMC Pune, to be Commissioned as a Medical Officer in Armed Forces Medical Services: 

The joining instructions for MBBS candidates at AFMC also include a format of the Surety Bond for candidates. It states, "Whereas the medical student (hereinafter called “Medical Cadet”) has been selected by Government for admission to MBBS Degree Course of Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, and training with a view to his/ her being commissioned as a Medical Officer in the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) as Permanent Commissioned (PC)/ Short Service Commissioned (SSC) Officer provided he/ she is considered suitable by the Government in all respects for being commissioned as aforesaid and there is a vacancy. The offer of the type of commission (PC/SSC) will depend upon the vacancies available and shall be determined on merit at the final MBBS examination cum choice. Cadets offered Short Service Commission will have a liability to serve in Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) for a period of seven years from the date of commission."

Surety Bond Terms: 

The terms of the Surety Bond are as follows: 

(a) That the said Medical Cadet will undergo all such courses and training as the Government may prescribe from time to time at AFMC and associated institutions. Attendance at all prescribed courses and training courses is compulsory and absence from which without prior permission from appropriate authority will attract disciplinary action.

(b) That the Medical Cadet after successful completion of MBBS Degree Course/ Training on being found suitable in all respects, unless he / she is prevented from doing so by death or on account of ill health or by being removed from the College Roll on the grounds that he/she is considered by the appropriate authority to be unfit to continue as a Medical Cadet [of which the decision of Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services DGAFMS) shall be final] if offered commission as Medical Officer in the Armed Forces Medical Services he/ she shall accept such commission.

(c) That the Medical Cadet during his/ her study at the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, will be governed by the prescribed college Standings Orders, Code of Conduct and any other instructions in this regard and violation of these orders/instructions shall attract penalties awarded by the appropriate authorities whose decision shall be final.

(d) That the Medical Cadet will undergo a medical examination on entry and at periodic intervals during training and prior to commission and he/ she may be declared Non-Service Liability (NSL) or withdrawn from training or not offered commission if found medically unfit.

(e) That the Medical Cadet once having been admitted to the College will not be permitted to withdraw from the college after seven days of admission without paying the bond money. Any Medical Cadet withdrawing from college after 1600 hours (4 PM) of the seventh day from the date of admission will be liable to pay the bond money at a rate proportionate to the amount of time they have been trained in the institute limited to the total Bond money of Rs 67,00,000/- (Rupees Sixty-Seven Lakh only).

To view the document, click on the link below: 

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/afmc-pune-252655.pdf

Also Read: Rs 65 lakh bond for MBBS admissions at AFMC Pune this year