Rajasthan HC denies relief to MBBS student who failed to complete course in 14 years

Jaipur: Observing that sympathy or financial loss cannot be the basis for allowing someone to become a doctor, the Rajasthan High Court recently refused to grant relief to a student who could not complete his MBBS course even after 14 years.

Dismissing the appeal filed by the student, who had sought permission to appear for his remaining MBBS examinations, the HC Division bench comprising Justices Arun Monga and Manish Sharma observed that the student's inability to complete the course despite being granted repeated opportunities over 14 years showed that he had failed to achieve the minimum academic standards required to earn an MBBS degree, NDTV has reported.

The student had been admitted to the National Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) University, Jaipur back in 2010. However, by 2024, even after 14 years, he could not clear his final professional examination.

Also Read: Altogether 4 Attempts to Clear MBBS 1st prof Exams: NMC GMER 2023

As per the latest media report by NDTV, during the course of his studies, the student appeared for several examinations from the first year to the final year. However, he continued to fail. Even by 2020, he had not passed key subjects such as Medicine and Gynaecology.

It was argued by counsel for the petitioner-student that when he joined the course in 2010, there was no maximum time limit for completing the MBBS course. The counsel further contended that the 10-year time limit for completing the MBBS course, which was introduced by the National Medical Commission (NMC), should not be applied retrospectively in the petitioner-student's case.

While considering the matter, the High Court on January 30, 2024 granted an interim relief to the student by allowing him one final chance to appear for the examination. The result was submitted to the Court in a sealed cover. However, it showed that the student had failed once again.

The HC bench opined that an MBBS degree is not just an academic qualification, but it is also a responsibility directly linked to the lives of the patients. Therefore, the bench said that public interest and minimum educational standards cannot be compromised.

Further, the bench observed that if a patient came to know that the doctor treating them had repeatedly failed to complete the MBBS course despite multiple opportunities, it could naturally raise concerns regarding the competence of the concerned doctor.

With this observation, the HC bench rejected the plea, stating that financial investment or personal hardship cannot outweigh public safety and candidates who fail to meet the required academic standards cannot be allowed to practise medicine.

Under GMER 2023, MBBS students used to get our (04) attempts for the first year (First Professional MBBS) and nine years from the date of admission to complete the course.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that earlier this year, the National Medical Commission (NMC) proposed that undergraduate medical students must complete the MBBS course, along with the mandatory one-year internship, within 10 years of joining the MBBS course.

In a Gazette notification dated 18.05.2026, NMC Secretary Dr. Raghav Langer issued the draft regulations to amend the Graduate Medical Education Regulations 2023.  As per the notification, NMC has proposed that under the new regulations called "Graduate Medical Education (Amendment) Regulations, 2026", MBBS students will get 10 years to complete the MBBS course and internship.

Also Read: NMC proposes 10 year limit to complete MBBS course