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India’s top court on Monday adjourned a batch of petitions seeking exemption from allowing nearly 20,000 students who had to return from Ukraine due to the Russian attack to complete their medical education in India until September 15. The matter was heard by a bench comprising Justices Hemant Gupta and Sudhanshu Dhulia The adjournment application was filed in the court by Advocate General Tushar Mehta who said that “Your Lordship has approached the External Affairs Committee, it seems they have taken a favorable view. I need instructions from the Ministry.”

Accordingly, the matter will now be heard on September 15. The petitioners were based on a report tabled by the Lok Sabha’s Committee on External Affairs on August 3, which recommended the Ministry of Health and Welfare consider accommodating students who have returned from Ukraine in Indian private medical colleges as a one-off measure. Given the said recommendation, the petitioners sought an appropriate decision from the Government of India and the National Medical Commission in respect of the students from Ukraine. During the previous hearing, the Court noted in the order the recommendations of the Lok Sabha committee.

Last hearing

In the last hearing on the matter, the court questioned the policy drawn up by the Government of India in line with earlier directions taken by the Court to create a scheme for students who could not complete their medical education abroad due to the pandemic. The bench was informed that students who completed their courses but could not do internship in foreign countries like China could do the same here. However, in the case of Ukrainian students, not all of them are in their final year.

Case Name : Archita and others v National Medical Commission and others, WP(c) 607/2022 and 6 related cases.