[BREAKING] Supreme Court to hear tomorrow plea to evaluate PG Resident Doctors on basis of internal/other assessment

The Supreme Court will hear tomorrow a writ petition filed by a group of 17 final year resident postgraduate doctors seeking alternative mode of assessment, considering the fact that many such doctors are still serving in COVID-19 duties..The resident PG doctors submitted that in middle of their routine COVID-19 duties, which usually range from 8 to 12 hours a day and upto 24 hours (depending on the nature of the duty), they "were shocked to note that their Universities started to announce timetables for Final Year Examination.".The petitioners contended that the plea is not to seek cancellation or postponement of the final year examination, but rather calls for an alternative mode of assessment to be adopted. This may include assessment on the basis of practical examination and/or assessment on the basis of internal assessment..The doctors further submitted that expecting a doctor to sit for a theory examination, in absence of any preparatory leave and without a reasonable notice to prepare, is unjust and manifestly arbitrary .."This will not only be life threat to the patient which the doctor is attending but at the same time will also expose them to the deadly virus. It is dangerous more so because they will have to come back from the examination and attend the Covid patients, who are most vulnerable to any kind of exposure," the plea stated..The National Medical Commission on April 27 had clarified that in order to ensure that there is no shortage of resident doctors in handling the surge of COVID-19 cases across the country, the services of resident postgraduate students may be continued to be utilized until fresh batches of postgraduate students have joined..They also pointed out that the Central government had on May 3 clarified that NEET-PG is postponed for four months and will not be held before August 31, 2021.It was also announced that professionals who sign up for minimum 100 days of COVID duty and complete it successfully will also be given the Prime Minister’s Distinguished Covid National Service Samman from the Government of India. On the basis of thus assurance, many doctors joined COVID duties.."While the doctors, are rendering their duties to safeguard the interest of the entire country, a reasonable consideration must be given by the authorities before passing an abrupt decision regarding conduct of final year examination, which in any event is against its own notification dated 27.04.2021 and also against the spirit of the Prime Minister’s statement dated 03.05.2021," the petition said..It was further stated that expecting the PG students to appear in theory papers which would last for 10-14 days, is unreasonable and arbitrary, and will amount to flagrant violation of their fundamental rights as guaranteed under Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India..The matter will be heard tomorrow.