Compulsory Service Not Applicable To PG Medical Students Admitted Before 2018-19 : Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court has clarified that provisions of "Karnataka Compulsory Service Training by Candidates Completed Medical Courses Act, 2012" will not be applicable to the PG medical students/petitioners who were admitted to the course during the academic years 2016-17 and 2017-18. In 2019, the High Court had upheld the constitutional validity of Karnataka Compulsory Service Training by Candidates Completed Medical Courses Act, 2012 and Rules of 2015, which mandate all students who have enrolled for Graduation, Post Graduation and Super Speciality course in medicine, post the enactment of rules of 2015, to compulsorily render public service for one year, in government health institutes which is remunerative. The main challenge by the petitioners was that the provisions of the Karnataka Compulsory Service Training by Candidates Completed Medical Courses Act are made applicable to them and consequently the impugned order dated 23.07.2020 has been issued calling upon the petitioners who would be graduating from various institutions in the State of Karnataka to report to the Director of Medical Education after the exams, for posting.\ The PG students admitted from the academic year 2018-19, onwards who have been informed of the implementation of the Act and Rules, following which they have executed bonds/undertaking. However, PG students/petitioners from the academic year 2018-19 onwards have been informed of the implementation of the Act and Rules, following which they have executed bonds undertaking to abide by solemn undertaking, therefore, the provisions of the Act and Rules shall be made applicable to them."