Supreme court directs NMC to examine MBBS doctors mandatory rural service issue
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has issued directions to the National Medical Commission (NMC) to examine the issue of compulsory rural service for doctors after completing their MBBS course.
This direction was passed by an Apex Court bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe while hearing a petition filed by MBBS graduates who challenged the application of Karnataka's mandatory rural service requirement.
Issuing directions to the NMC to examine the matter, the top court bench posted it for further hearing on December 8, 2026.
"We direct the National Medical Commission (NMC) to examine the issue of mandatory rural service for doctors who complete their MBBS Course. List this matter for further order on 08.12.2026," the top court bench ordered on 04.11.2026.
Present Petition:
Under the Karnataka Compulsory Service Training by Candidates Completed Medical Courses Act, 2012, and subsequently framed Karnataka Compulsory Service Training by Candidates Completed Medical Course Rules, 2015, every MBBS graduate, Post-Graduate (Diploma or Degree), and Super Specialty candidate, who has pursued their education either in a government university or on a government seat in a private/deemed university, is mandated to render one year of compulsory public rural service.
The students are issued the requisite No-Objection Certificate (NOC) only after fulfilling this requirement, and thereafter they become eligible to get permanent registration from the Karnataka Medical Council.
This requirement was extended to the students enrolled in private seats in private/deemed universities as well through the notification issued on 28.07.2023.
Filing the plea, the students argued that the Candidates enrolled in private or deemed universities on private seats, who are pursuing their studies at significantly higher costs, constitute an intelligible differentia under Article 14 of the Constitution of India. Therefore, the petitioners argued that they are not to be subjected to compulsory service requirements.
The petitioners relied on the Supreme Court's decision in the case of Association of Medical Super Speciality Aspirants Residents & Ors. Vs Union of India & Ors. In this case, the Apex Court had rejected the challenge against the imposition of compulsory bonds to be executed at the time of admission to PG medical courses and Super Speciality courses.
However, at the same time, in this case, taking note of the rigid compulsory bond conditions in certain State Governments, the Apex Court had suggested the Union Government and the Medical Council of India to take steps to have a uniform policy regarding the compulsory service to be rendered by doctors who are pursuing their medical education in the government institutes.
Referring to this, the petitioners prayed to the Apex Court to issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate order directing the Commissionerate of Health & Family Welfare Services to issue the required NOC to the petitioners without subjecting them to any affidavit of compulsory rural service. They also urged the Court to direct the Karnataka Medical Council to accept their Permanent Registration.
Earlier Observations by Supreme Court:
Medical Dialogues had previously reported that, in May 2024, the Apex Court bench, while issuing notice, had questioned why the medical students from private medical institutes should be exempted from working in rural areas.
Earlier this year, the Apex Court had suggested that there should be a uniform policy for the compulsory rural service to be rendered by medical students. Previously, in response to the Apex Court's recommendation, the Solicitor General had agreed to get instructions from the Centre regarding the proposal of such a pan-Indian policy.
Last month, during the hearing of the issue, the top court bench took note of the lack of clarity on the Union Government's Stand and expressed its inclination to lay down some guidelines based on the constitutional principles for mandatory compulsory rural service by medical students across the country.
To view the latest order of the Apex Court, click on the link below:
https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/2026/11/05/vs-govt-of-karnataka-482261.pdf
