Ukraine Universities demand full fees for transferring documents, students pray to SC for intervention by Centre
New Delhi: In the latest update regarding the Ukraine returned medicos, they claimed before the Supreme Court on Friday that the universities in Ukraine were demanding the students to go back to the war-torn country to get back their respective documents and for this purpose, the foreign medical institutes are allegedly demanding full fees.
With these submissions, the counsel for the Ukraine returned medicos recently prayed the top court bench comprising of Justice Hemant Gupta for issuing a direction to the Central Government to urge the universities in Ukraine in this regard.
The counsel for the students informed the top court bench that the Union Government would be required to put pressure on the Foreign medical universities through the Government in Ukraine.
These prayers were made by the advocate for the Ukraine returned medicos when the top court bench asked the Central Government if it had narrowed down the list of those countries which are ready to admit these students to their medical colleges for completing their medical courses.
Directing the Union Government for resolving these issues before the next hearing, the Supreme Court bench adjourned the matter for further hearing till after the Dussehra holidays. The matter would be heard next on October 11.
After the commencement of the war between Ukraine and Russia, thousands of medical students who were pursuing their education in the Ukraine based Universities had to come back home. Although there has been continuous plea from those students for accommodating them in the Indian medical colleges, the National Medical Commission (NMC) clarified it to be not possible.
Also Read: Ukraine returned medicos reject Academic Mobility Programme before Supreme Court
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that several organizations had requested the Government for accommodating the medicos in the Indian institutes as a one time measure. In this regard, petitions have been filed before the Supreme Court as well seeking relief for the Ukraine returned medicos.
However, the Union Government has recently clarified that the accommodating the Ukraine returned medicos in the Indian medical colleges would not be possible.
In an affidavit before the top court bench, the Central Government had referred to the academic mobility programme about the possible solution for the Ukraine returned medicos and pointed out that NMC would accept completion of their remaining courses in other countries (with the approval of parent university/Institution in Ukraine).
On September 16, the apex court said there should be a transparent system and the web portal should specify complete details of the fees and the number of seats available in alternative foreign universities from where these students could complete their courses.
During the hearing of the matter on Friday, the Central Government on Friday told the top court bench that they are working on the suggestions given by the court for assisting medical students who have returned to India from Ukraine.
The counsel appearing for the Centre told the top court on Friday that they have written to the secretaries of the ministries of external affairs as well as health on the issue, adds PTI.
"In terms of the last order, we have written to the secretaries of MEA (ministry of external affairs) as well as Health. Our instruction is that they are on it," the counsel told a bench of Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia.
The counsel further said that in the last hearing, the apex court had indicated that a website can be made where information can be put so that there is clarity.
"We are on it," the lawyer said, adding, "It is taken up with utmost priority."
When one of the advocates said that final-year medical students can be permitted to take online education, the bench observed, "We are not saying anything. We will pass a comprehensive order".
At the outset, one of the advocates, appearing for some of the students, said several states have written to the Centre on the issue.
Arguing that around 13,000 medical students are affected, the lawyer said the Centre and the National Medical Commission should talk to these states.
As per the latest media report by India Today, when the top court bench asked the Centre if it had identified the countries which are ready to admit the Ukraine returned medicos to their medical colleges, the counsel for the students informed the court about the demands made by some of the medical colleges in Ukraine were demanding the students to go back to the war-torn country for collecting their documents.
Further submitting that those universities in Ukraine were asking for full fees for issuing the documents, the counsel for the students mentioned that the Union Government would be required to put pressure on the universities via the Ukrainian government for issuing the relevant documents.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on October 11.
