The Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Aravind Kumar heard a batch of petitions concerning the non-payment of stipends to Indian medical graduates and foreign medical graduates (FMGs) during their mandatory internships. The petitioners were represented by Advocate Tanvi Dubey, while Advocate R. Balasubramanian appeared for the respondent authorities.
The Court directed that Indian medical graduates from Army Medical College, who were petitioners in the original writ, be paid arrears of ₹25,000 within 8 weeks. During the hearing, Ms. Dubey highlighted the dire conditions of FMGs, stating that forcing them to work without pay amounted to bonded labour. She emphasized that these students work gruelling shifts of 36–48 hours and yet receive no financial support.
Taking note of the concern, the bench orally observed that “Why will you not pay stipend. They deserve it as a matter of right.”
The Court also acknowledged that many of the FMG petitioners have already completed their internship and that their rights must not go unaddressed.
The Court has now listed the matter relating to foreign medical graduates for final hearing on an urgent basis.