| Case Reference: Association of Doctors and Medical Students v. National Medical Commission, Writ Petition(s)(Civil) No(s). 745/2025, decided on August 12, 2025. |
New Delhi: The Supreme Court issued a notice to the National Medical Commission (NMC) over the delay in starting the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) for FMGs from Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
NMC Gets SC Notice
A Division Bench comprising Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice KV Vishwanathan sought a response from the NMC by September 1, 2025, in a writ petition alleging “arbitrary and unreasonable inaction” on the part of the authorities.
What is CRMI?
The Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship is a year-long practical training program for medical graduates in India. As per the National Medical Commission (Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship) Regulations, 2021, issued via notification on November 18, 2021, the CRMI is an integral part of the undergraduate medical degree.
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Under Rule 3, graduates must undergo rotational postings in all major clinical departments.
Rule 4 further mandates that no permanent registration can be granted unless the CRMI is completed in India, as outlined in Schedule II of the Regulations.
Join NEET News 2025 | NMC (Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship) Regulations, 2021: 1. Duration & Structure: 12-month mandatory internship with fixed rotations across major clinical and community departments. 2. Eligibility for Practice: Completion required for NMC permanent registration and independent medical practice. 3. Timeline & Leave: Must finish within 2 years of final exam; 15 days normal leave plus maternity/paternity provisions. 4. Supervision & Records: Maintain log-book; work under qualified mentors; final certification by Dean/Principal. 5. Training Focus: Hands-on skills, patient care, emergency handling, and exposure to electives (e.g., AYUSH, respiratory medicine). |
Petitioners’ Case on CRMI Delay for FMGs in TN & Kerala
The petitioners, medical graduates from foreign universities, had:
- Cleared the NBEMS Screening Test (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination), making them fully eligible for CRMI.
- Returned to India to serve in the country’s healthcare system.
However, they claimed that since January 2025, authorities in Tamil Nadu and Kerala have not issued notifications to begin the internship process, despite most other states having already commenced it.
This delay, the petitioners argued, has:
- Left them unemployed for over six months.
- Caused severe financial hardship.
- Stalled their professional careers.
- Discriminated against them compared to FMGs in other states.
The petitioners sought a court direction to immediately initiate CRMI in Tamil Nadu and Kerala and allocate internship slots to eligible FMGs.
According to the petition, the inordinate and unexplained delay not only violates the rights of FMGs to livelihood but also deprives the public healthcare system of much-needed manpower.
While most Indian states have streamlined the CRMI process, FMGs from Tamil Nadu and Kerala remain in a state of uncertainty, unable to proceed toward permanent registration as doctors.
Court’s Direction
The Supreme Court’s notice to the NMC signals judicial scrutiny over the implementation gaps in the CRMI framework. The NMC will now have to explain:
- Reasons for the delay in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
- Steps planned to address the backlog and begin internships.
The matter will be heard next on September 1, 2025.
