Punjab MBBS Bond policy requiring Rs 20 lakh property sureties draws backlash

Patiala: Punjab's new MBBS bond policy, requiring government medical college MBBS students to pledge two properties worth Rs 20 lakh as sureties, has drawn criticism.

The move has sparked widespread backlash from parents, students, the Resident Doctors Association, and IMA Punjab, who call the rule “regressive and punitive,” arguing it places an unfair burden on middle- and lower-income families and could deter meritorious students. Parents have suggested alternatives such as bank guarantees or withholding permanent registration.

While the government defends the policy as essential to address the shortage of doctors in rural areas, protests and appeals for a rollback continue across the state.

Now, two medical colleges in Punjab have set a deadline for compliance asking the aspirants to submit a bond backed by two property sureties worth Rs 20 lakh, clarifying that those unable to provide such sureties will be barred from attending classes.

The penalty is supposed to apply only if a student refuses to work in a government hospital after graduation. However, the two medical colleges are now asking aspirants to pledge property worth the same amount at the time of admission as a security deposit. This means aspirants are not expected to pay the penalty upfront, but they must immediately prove their capacity to do so by submitting property sureties. The pledged amount will be enforced as the penalty once they fail to abide by the Bond policy.

Also read- Punjab's Bond Policy for MBBS Students opposed, Union Health Minister urged to intervene

This comes after the Government Medical College, Patiala and the Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, issued notices to aspirants recently, as reported by TOI.

Strongly opposing the move, the parents are now concerned for their children's future as they claim that the policy is harsh, unrealistic, and exclusionary. They argue that the bond will prevent deserving students from pursuing a medical degree, as most families do not own property worth that much.

Previously, the parents of medical aspirants wrote a letter to the Union Health Minister J P Nadda and asked the National Medical Commission (NMC) to reconsider the compulsory bond since the amount was too high.

In June this year, the Punjab Government introduced a new bond policy for students getting enrolled into the MBBS and BDS courses in the State-run medical and dental colleges to tackle the shortage of doctors in government health institutes. Under the new bond policy, which will come into force from the academic session 2025-2026, students getting admitted to government medical/dental institutes will either have to serve in government healthcare facilities for two years after completing their courses or pay a bond penalty of Rs 20 lakh.

The State has made this bond service policy for the students getting admitted under the All-India-Quota as well. However, in their case, the duration of the mandatory service will be limited to one year, instead of two years like the State quota students.

Pointing out at other states' bond policy, the parents of the aspirants alleged that the bond amount is Rs 10 lakh and a bank guarantee is accepted instead of property sureties in Haryana.

Meanwhile, the policy has drawn condemnation from medical associations and resident doctors, who have held protests in recent weeks demanding its repeal. The Resident Doctors Association of Patiala and the Medical Student Association of Punjab argue that the policy is a "cruel joke" on families already burdened with high tuition fees and will worsen, not solve, the state's doctor shortage.

In response to the rising opposition, the college principals say they have no choice but to follow the government’s orders. Students must submit the bond, though some relaxation in deadlines could be possible.

Principal of GMC Patiala, Dr R P S Sibia, said, "The college must enforce the govt's notification. The students will have to submit the bond, failing which they will not be allowed to attend classes."

He further said the college was only implementing directions received from the Directorate of Research and Medical Education (DRME), Punjab. “We have extended the deadline for submitting the sureties to September 26,” he told The Indian Express.

According to a recent The Indian Express report, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has demanded immediate rollback of Punjab government’s new “bond/surety policy” for admission to state’s medical and dental colleges for MBBS courses.

Demanding immediate rollback of the rule, the IMA, Punjab chapter, in a statement issued Thursday, said, “This regressive and punitive measure, which includes a mandatory service bond of up to two years or a penalty of Rs 20 lakh, coupled with the insistence on property-based sureties, is unacceptable and must be withdrawn immediately. The policy has created immense financial and mental distress for students and their families, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. It is a move that threatens to dismantle the aspirations of thousands of aspiring doctors who have worked tirelessly to secure a seat in government medical colleges.”

Punjab IMA president Dr Vikas Chhabra said, “The Rs 20 lakh penalty, along with the recent annual fee hikes, places an exorbitant financial burden on students. It contradicts the very purpose of government medical colleges, which is to provide affordable and accessible medical education. How a person with middle and lower socio-economic status can give two sureties of Rs 20 lakh each for one child and even for most of the people who have two children and are dreaming of making them doctors, it will not be possible for them to arrange four sureties for 2 children.”

Calling it an ineffective solution to address the problem of shortage of doctors in government hospitals, the IMA statement further says: “Forcing graduates into mandatory government service for a meagre stipend, which is significantly lower than in neighbouring states, is tantamount to bonded labour. This exploitative practice not only devalues the years of hard work and sacrifice required to become a doctor but also makes a mockery of public service. The stringent conditions, including mandatory property sureties, are likely to dissuade top-ranking students from choosing Punjab’s medical colleges. This could lead to a brain drain.”

Meanwhile, Dr Avnish Kumar, director, DRME Punjab, said, “While I have to check the details of the bond, we are here to help the needy students. Any student who cannot fulfil the conditions due to financial constraints can write to us and we will relax the condition,” he said.

An affected parent from Patiala, who didn’t wish to be named, told HT, “The government could have taken an undertaking from the student or parent that if they fail to fulfil the mandatory bond, the Punjab Medical Council should not issue permanent registration – a licence to practice, or the government could have taken a bank guarantee.”

The Resident Doctors Association also slammed the Punjab government’s decision. Dr Mehtab Bal of the association said the policy was especially harsh on students from economically weaker sections. “Adding insult to injury, the order barring students from attending classes for non-payment or non-compliance with the bond is unjust and unacceptable. Asking students to give surety of two properties worth ₹20 lakh each is arbitrary,” he added.

Dr Bal added that such punitive action disrupts education, causes undue financial and mental stress, and cannot be justified.

Also read- Punjab Introduces Rs 20 lakh Bond Policy for MBBS, BDS Admissions