Resident doctors' duty hours: NMC files affidavit, SC seeks response from Health Ministry
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India today heard the plea seeking the implementation of the Uniform Residency Scheme, 1992, limiting resident doctors' duty hours to 12 hours a day and 48 hours a week.
During the hearing, the National Medical Commission (NMC) placed its affidavit on record.
Hearing the petition by United Doctors Front (UDF), the Apex Court Bench of Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale has told the Union Health Ministry to file its response/affidavit and listed the matter for further hearing on October 27, 2026.
Case Background:
The plea, filed through Advocates Mr. Satyam Singh, and Ms. Neema AOR, sought urgent intervention from the Apex Court to enforce compliance with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's 1992 directives notification, which mandates that resident doctors should not work more than 12 hours per day and 48 hours per week.
The PIL mentioned that despite clear directives from the Supreme Court over three decades ago, medical institutions continue to violate prescribed standards with impunity.
UDF has contended that doctors are routinely made to work 70-100 hours a week, violating this norm and endangering both doctors and patient safety.
The petition cites the National Task Force report on Mental Health and Well-being of Medical Students, which documented over 150 suicides of medical students within five years, primarily due to work-related stress and sleep deprivation.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had issued notice to the Union of India and NMC on August 22, 2025, condoning the delay and calling for responses.
Also Read: Doctors' duty hours: Supreme Court to hear Uniform residency scheme plea on July 31
What happened today?
In a Press Release, UDF stated that NMC placed on record its affidavit during today's hearing.
"The National Medical Commission had filed its affidavit and has supported the basic demand of UDF for implementation of the 1992 residency rules. The Hon'ble Court has granted time to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to file its response/affidavit," the release mentioned.
According to a Lawbeat report, the counsel for NMC submitted that the implementation of conditions relating to prolonged working hours ultimately falls at the State and hospital levels, where the regulatory requirements have to be implemented. The counsel also pointed out that the relevant regulatory framework dates back to 1992, when provisions concerning the duty hours of resident doctors were already put in place.
Taking note of these submissions, the Apex Court directed that the office of the Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati be served again and adjourned the matter for further hearing on October 27, 2026.
A Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare, headed by MP Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav, in its 172nd report, submitted on 18.03.2026, also addressed the issue of duty hours of resident doctors.
"The Committee is concerned about excessive continuous duty hours for Junior and Senior Residents and the risk of clinical errors and burnout, thereby compromising patient safety. The Committee, therefore, recommends that the Department formulate and strictly enforce a 'Clinical Duty Hours Regulation' policy with mandatory rest periods, and monitored rosters, drawing a direct analogy from other safety-critical professions like civil aviation to prevent fatigue-induced accidents," the Committee mentioned in its report.
