Petition before SC seeks rules for movement of medical students evacuated from Ukraine to Indian medical colleges

A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court requesting that procedures be developed for the movement of Indian medical students who have been evacuated from Ukraine to Indian medical colleges as a one-time measure for the comparable academic year.

The request was made by evacuated students who asked the court’s immediate indulgence in light of the unprecedented circumstances that has arisen in the aftermath of the Russia-Ukraine conflict crisis, which has severely hampered their studies. The sad events in Ukraine have forced students to flee, and as a result, their education has come to a halt.

According to the appeal filed by counsel Ashwarya Sinha, the education of around 14,000 displaced Indian students has come to a standstill, and their careers are at risk.

Their basic rights, as guaranteed by Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Indian Constitution, have been irreversibly compromised.

The attorney further stated that the evacuated students, including the Petitioners herein, are suffering from enormous mental anguish because their whole career is in limbo and their education has come to a halt since February 2022, with no foreseeable return of peace in the war-torn nation.

“The regrettable circumstance that has occurred in this matter is that the Petitioners are unable to resume their studies at their various universities in Ukraine and are not authorised to continue their education at institutions in India under the current rules. restrictions, “According to the petition.

As a result, the petitioners have also requested that the National Medical Commission (NMC) issue an appropriate direction under Section 45 of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, directing the NMC to develop guidelines and SOPs for the migration of Indian medical students evacuated from Ukraine to Indian Medical Colleges as a one-time measure during the equivalent academic year.

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The petition also requested that the Centre issue necessary directions under Section 46 of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019; and that the respondents provide adequate infrastructural/academic and financial support for the continuation of medical education of the evacuated Indian students from Ukraine.

The appeal further sought directions for preserving the rights of evacuated students and their migration to Indian Medical Colleges by exercising power provided under Article 142 of the Indian Constitution in view of the unique situation caused by the current war in Ukraine.

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