Karnataka High Court Stays Mandate For Compulsory Rural Service By PG Medical Students Who Graduated Before August 2023

A single judge bench of Justice S R Krishna Kumar passed the order while hearing a petition filed by Dr Suvetha P and others.

The petitioners submitted that they are students who completed their PG Medical courses in August 2023, before the Karnataka Compulsory Service by Candidates Completed Medical Courses (Amendment) Act, 2023, came into force. 

It was stated that the amendment act, which introduced the concept of compulsory rural service, was not retrospective in nature, and thus was not applicable to the petitioners.

Further, it was said the impugned notification which was based upon the aforesaid amendment was illegal, arbitrary and without jurisdiction or authority of law and deserved to be quashed.

The government advocates sought time to file an objection. Following this, the court said “In the meanwhile, the operation and implementation of the impugned Notification dated 12.07.2024 insofar as the petitioners are concerned is hereby stayed till the next date of hearing.

Earlier the court had directed the petitioners to comply with the registration requirement as outlined in the relevant Notification. It had said, “This registration is mandated solely for procedural compliance and will not prejudice the petitioners' rights to seek appropriate interim relief from this Court during subsequent hearings.”

Appearance: Advocate Hiremath Akkamahadevi for Petitioners.

Case Title: DR. SUVETHA P & Others AND State of Karnataka & Others

Case No: WP 19783/2024