After NMC asks States to do Away with Seat leaving Bond, Maha DMER to submit report to centre

Mumbai: Following the National Medical Commission's (NMC) call to Indian states to reconsider their policies on seat leaving bonds in medical colleges, Maharashtra is in the process of formulating a comprehensive report, which will be submitted to the Centre before conclusive decisions are made.

Confirming this, the Director of Medical Education (DMER), Maharashtra Dr. Dilip Mhaisekar informed Indian Express that they were compiling a comprehensive report and examining the court orders that led to the imposition of the penalty in the first place. After the DMER submits the report, the State will take a call in this regard.

This comes after NMC wrote to the Principal Secretary of Health and Medical Education of all States and Union Territories earlier this year and asked them to review the seat-leaving bond policy, and preferably do away with the same.

The NMC direction came after the Anti-Ragging Committee of the Commission held a meeting on 9th January 2024 to address the mental health concerns of PG medical students and recommended the State/UT to review the seat leaving policy in medical colleges and do away the same. As an alternative, they recommended that the States may consider debarring the students for admission in their States for the next one year.

In the case of Maharashtra, the resident doctors are currently required to pay a penalty of Rs 20 lakh in case they leave their seats. Due to the heavy penalty, the doctors are forced to continue their work as resident doctors even if it raises their mental health concerns.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that last year, the Maharashtra DMER was planning to ask the State Government to waive the penalty after it took note of the mental health concerns among post-graduate medical students.

Addressing the issue of ongoing mental health crisis among the resident doctors of Maharashtra, the association pointed out several issues including issues like toxic work culture, unfathomable working hours etc. It also highlighted the necessity of forming a Grievance Redressal Committee, and relief in seat leaving penalty.

Speaking to Indian Express, Dr. Mhaisekar informed the Daily that following NMC directives might lead to removing penalties in the State. However, he also stressed on the importance of a well-researched report beforehand to avoid any violations of Court orders or previous directives in this regard.

"We are currently in the process of compiling a comprehensive report, delving into the court orders that led to the penalty’s imposition several years ago. It is crucial for us to understand the rationale behind it. Without a thorough background check, removing the penalty might result in a blatant violation of the court order, placing us in a precarious legal position. Once we submit the report, a decision on the penalty will be taken," he told Indian Express.

Addressing the issue of mental health concerns of PG medicos, Dr. Mhaisekar informed the Daily that they regularly counsel medical students to help them cope with stress and mental ailments. He added, "We have increased the number of medical seats, providing more breathing space for students, with a greater number of resident doctors. Additionally, alongside counseling, we have initiated a helpline for them to talk while maintaining anonymity."

The issue of seat leaving bond was earlier addressed by the Supreme Court as well. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that back in 2022 while considering a plea by a PG medical aspirant who had challenged the huge amount of security bond for vacating the seat, the Supreme Court had suggested that there should be a uniform security bond amount across the States. Although the bench comprising of Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice Hima Kohli and Justice J.B. Pardiwala had denied to grant any relief to the concerned student, it noted that the students who join the medical courses often come from humble middle class backgrounds and therefore, there should be uniformity regarding the bond amount for vacating the seats.

Also Read: Mental Health Concerns: Maha DMER Plans to Withdraw Rs 20 Lakh Seat Withdrawal Fees for Residents