Maharashtra Government’s Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) has instructed all private medical colleges in the State to pay interns a monthly stipend of Rs 18,000 as per government regulations. This follows a hearing at the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court in response to a writ petition filed by 13 medical students regarding discrepancies in stipends to medical interns. Also, the DMER has demanded a report on stipends from every college. The petitioners, represented by counsel Adv Ashwin Deshpande in the writ petition, had challenged the disparity in payment of stipend during the Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship (CRRI) period at private medical colleges in Maharashtra.

 

During the hearing, the Division Bench of Justice Nitin Sambre and Justice Abhay Mantri had issued notice to the Government. The petitioner, Ayush Pawade and his fellow petitioners, all enrolled in private medical colleges, contend that despite performing duties similar to their peers in Government medical colleges, they receive lower stipends. The petition highlights that while interns in government institutions are entitled to a stipend of Rs 18,000/- per month as per a recent government resolution (dated February 27, 2024), those in private colleges receive as low as Rs 4,000 per month. The petitioners argue that this discrepancy amounts to discrimination and unfair treatment, especially considering the mandatory nature of the internship for medical certification.

 

They cite the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, and regulations therein and asserted that stipends should be uniform across all institutions irrespective of their public or private status. Responding to these contentions, the bench directed notices to respondents State of Maharashtra through its Medical Education and Drugs Department, Government of India through the National Medical Commission, Directorate of Medical Education and Research, Fees Regulating Authority, Dean of N.K.P. Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre.

 

The respondents are directed to file their reply by August 8, 2024. The petitioners also submitted that the Supreme Court passed an interim order directing the College in the said petition to pay a stipend of Rs 25,000/- per month to each of their interns. Furthermore, The Supreme Court noted that the interns are required to be paid a stipend during the period of internship and that the mandate of the regulations adopted by the National Medical Commission cannot be breached. Hence, in accordance with the order passed by the Supreme Court, the Petitioners are also eligible to get a fair and increased amount of stipend.