FMG Internship Extension from 2 to 3 years in MP: HC notice to state, NMC, Medical Council
Madhya Pradesh High Court
Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has granted three weeks of time to the State Government, National Medical Commission (NMC), State Medical Council, and other authorities to file their responses in a plea that challenged the extension of the tenure of MBBS internship for Foreign Medical Graduates by one year.
After the authorities sought further time to file their responses, the HC bench, comprising Justices Sanjeev Sachdeva and Vinay Saraf, asked them to file their responses within three weeks. The HC listed the matter for further hearing in the last week of April 2025.
The plea was filed by Dr Raguvanshi from Vidisha, who completed his MBBS degree in China. Challenging the extension of the internship duration, the petitioner argued that the sudden rule change was unjust.
According to the existing rules, foreign medical graduates must undergo one year of internship in a medical college of the State after completing their medical education abroad. This is necessary to be able to get a permanent registration to practice medicine in India.
The petitioner enrolled in a Chinese Medical College and later returned to India during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thereafter, he completed his course online. He claimed that the duration of the FMG internship was increased to two years during the COVID-19 outbreak. Further, it was increased by another year when only four months were left to complete his internship.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported the MP High Court had sought to know the stand of the State Government and the State Medical Council on the plea filed by FMGs who challenged the increase of the term of their internship by the State Medical Council from two to three years retrospectively.
The petitioners claimed that while they were about to complete the internship term in March 2025, they were informed on November 4, 2024, that their internship period would now be for a period of three years. They submitted that they had already started for the Pre-PG exam scheduled in June 2025 and the students have to study for at least one year to clear the exam.
As per the latest media report by the Times of India, during the hearing of the case before the HC bench comprising Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Vinay Saraf, the counsel for the petitioner, Senior counsel Aditya Sanghi argued that the rules of a game were not be changed after it had started.
He contended that the petitioner started the internship course when the term of the internship was two years, and therefore, it should remain two years and cannot be extended by another year midway.
Further, the petitioner's counsel argued that the period of FMG internship was increased to three years only in Madhya Pradesh, while everywhere else in the country, the duration is two years. Taking note of the arguments, the HC bench issued notices to the respondents.
During the hearing on 27.03.2025, the respondents sought further time to file reply. Granting the same, the Court asked them to file their replies within three weeks and listed the matter for further hearing in the week commencing 28.04.2025.
To view the HC order, click on the link below:
