Indians studying in Chinese medical colleges knock Delhi HC door to return to their varsities

Indians studying in Chinese medical colleges knock Delhi HC door to return to their varsities

Indians studying in Chinese medical colleges knock Delhi HC door to return to their varsities

Court issues notices to Centre, MEA, Health Ministry to reply by March 21

New Delhi, Feb. 10 (Delhi Crown): As many as 150 Indian students studying in Chinese medical colleges have moved the Delhi High Court against travel restrictions for over two years, as a result of which they haven’t been able to return to their respective universities.

The students sought a direction to the Ministry of External Affairs to consult with Chinese authorities and find a way for them to travel.

The petition was heard by a Division Bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh, which issued notices to the Centre as well as the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare directing them to file their responses by March 21.

The plea stated that thousands of Indian students returned to India, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, unlike Indian students studying in foreign universities in other countries, students studying in China could not return, given the continuous travel restrictions imposed by both countries, putting their careers at stake.

They said that the career of over 18,000 medical students, studying in various medical colleges across China, is at stake. Over the years China has been a popular destination for students pursuing medical career as the fee charged by medical colleges there is much less than those in India.

The students’ plea said – “The Petitioners herein, time and again, informed the authorities of their unique situation which is jeopardizing their careers. However, no positive response was received… In the present extra-ordinary circumstances, the Petitioners herein are neither being allowed to attain physical training/internships/clerkships in India by the NMC nor any clarifications being provided by the authorities regarding the approval to the online theory classes attended by them from their medical University situated in China.”

The petition also sought a direction to the National Medical Commission (NMC) to recognise the online classes attended by the petitioners at their Universities in China, and allow their physical training/internship/clerkship after getting necessary permissions.

Besides, a direction has also been sought to strike down provisions of the National Medical Commission Regulations that stipulate that the medical training should be done outside India in the same medical institution throughout the course of the study.

According to Indian embassy data in August 2021, about 23,000 students are currently enrolled in various medical schools in China. Travel restrictions imposed after the Covid pandemic have caused significant damage in the quality of education of medical students.

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