Doctors seek exemption from Rural service, Telangana HC junks plea

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court bench recently rejected a plea filed by some doctors who prayed for exemption from mandatory rural service after completion of their postgraduate medical courses.

Justice Mummineni Sudeer Kumar rejected the plea by doctors after taking note of the fact that only seven petitioners had appeared before the HC bench, more than 890 applicants reported to work in the rural regions.

The concerned petitioner doctors had been admitted to the PG medical courses back in 2019. At the time of admission, they had signed bonds promising to work for the Telangana Government for a year after completing their education.

As per the Telangana Medical Practitioners Registration (Amendment Act, 2013), it is mandatory for the doctors to undergo rural medical services in order to obtain registration from the Telangana State Medical Council.

Also Read: HC Relief to doctor, says bond service ineffective if rural postings not given within stipulated time

However, the petitioner doctors referred to another amendment to the Act back in 2018, which waived the obligations for mandatory rural service for the doctors, adds the New Indian Express.

On the other hand, the State Government contended that the amendments to the Telangana Medical Practitioners Registration Act, 1968 does not affect the ability of the State to the requirement of rural service as a condition of residency.

Further, the State Government submitted that the concerned Act only pertains to registration of the doctors and not to Postgraduate medical education.

At this outset, the counsel for the State placed reliance upon both the current regulations governing the PG studies and also the order of the Supreme Court in the case of Association of Medical Super Specialty Aspirants and Residents vs Union of India and Others.

In the concerned order, the top court bench had upheld the ability of the States to require bonds for undergoing mandatory government service after completion of education.

However, after taking note of the arguments by both the sides, the HC bench of Justice Mummineni Sudeer Kumar rejected the argument made by the counsel for the doctors and supported the argument made by the State.

Further taking note of the fact that the number of the petitioner doctors who sought exemption from rural service was only seven and more than 890 applicants have reported for rural service, the HC bench rejected the plea.

Also Read: Counselling for Bond Service Pending for months: Karnataka Medicos demand cancellation of bond terms