Stipend for Rajasthan FMGs at par with Indian Medicos- Plea in Supreme Court
Supreme Court of India
New Delhi: A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court of India seeking directions to the government authorities in Rajasthan to provide a stipend to foreign medical graduates in the state at a rate equal to that of Indian Medical Graduates.
It has been claimed in the plea that FMG interns in Rajasthan are not receiving any stipend during their internship and Indian Medical Graduates (IMGs) are being paid a stipend of Rs 21,700 per month at various Government medical colleges of the State.
Filed by advocate Dr. Charu Mathur, the plea has sought directions to the State Government authorities to provide a monthly stipend to the petitioners for the entire period of their internship at par with the Indian Medical Graduates.
After completing their medical education abroad, the petitioners are serving a one-year compulsory rotating medical internship at the Government Medical College, Dholpur (GMC Dholpur) in the State of Rajasthan. Alleging that they are not receiving any stipend, the petitioners have argued that this is in clear violation of their right under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.
Further, the petitioners claimed that their right to equality is breached as the IMGs performing same/similar duties in similar Government Medical Colleges are paid a stipend while they are denied.
The plea highlighted that the Rajasthan Government revised the existing rate of stipend for interns (MBBS/BDS) from Rs 7,000 to Rs 14,000 per month. After including the rates of Dearness Allowance (DA) payable to the Rajasthan Government employees under the Rajasthan Civil Services (Revised Pay) Rules, 2017, the IMGs in Rajasthan get Rs 21,700 as a monthly stipend.
The petition relied on the National Medical Commission (NMC) circular dated 04.03.2022, through which the Apex Medical Commission issued guidelines for registration of FMGs. Reliance was also placed on NMC Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021 and National Medical Commission (Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship) Regulations, 2021.
Besides, the petition also referred to the Apex Court's order dated 15.07.2025 in the case of Zabihullah & Ors. v/s Aligarh Muslim University & Ors, where the top court bench held that stipend is the right of the student and cannot be denied and consequentially directed Respondent college of AMU to release entire amount of stipend to the Petitioners. The top court bench had held in that case that stipend is the right of the student and cannot be denied.
"...by creating an artificial discrimination amongst interns. The act of respondents discriminates between IMG and FMG as well as between FMG of Respondent No.2 and other FMGs of other central universities/institutions. Regulation 3 of the NMC(CMRI) Regulations, 2021 provides 12-month CMRI as an integral part of undergraduate medical education; regulation 4 provides that bars on registration until and unless a medical graduate undergoes 12-month compulsory training. Regulation 2(e) defines intern as someone who undergoes 12- month training under the regulation. It simply defines intern and does not distinguish between IMG and FMG," the plea stated.
"BECAUSE the FMG (Petitioners) and IMG discharge same duties, yet one is paid and another is made to do unpaid work, which is in violations of fundamental right of Petitioners under Article 21 of the Constitution," it further mentioned.
The petitioners also submitted that they are finding it difficult to take care of their accommodation, food and other expenses while doing the one-year internship. "It is most humbly submitted that without a regular stipend, it is impossible for the Petitioners to survive. Without the basic stipend, it is impossible to even take care of their day-to-day expenses," the plea added.
"Petitioners are doing their duties with outmost responsibility and care. However, it is disheartening to note that even after risking their own lives, they are not even been provided with the basic stipend, to take care of their day-to day expenses," it further mentioned.
Also Read: FMGs move Supreme Court over unpaid stipend, Notice issued to NMC, MP Medical Council
