The Rajasthan High Court recently refused to come to the rescue of eight MBBS students who were not allowed to sit in their examination for shortage of attendance in the classes [Surendra Bisnoi vs The State of Rajasthan]..Justice Vinit Kumar Mathur said the importance of maintaining the highest standards in medical education cannot be overstated, as it directly affects the quality of healthcare provided to the public at large.Medical education requires strict adherence to attendance to ensure that students are sufficiently equipped with the knowledge and practical skills to become competent practitioners, the Bench underscored.“In the considered opinion of this Court, attendance in the MBBS examination is crucial. If a student has not acquired the requisite attendance in both theory and practicals, it would be detrimental to allow them to proceed with the course, particularly for the second-year examination,” the Court added. .In one of the petitions, a student of the Government Medical College, Barmer said he could not attend the classes during the first year due to dengue. After he was not allowed to sit in the first year examination and the supplementary examination, he moved the Court for relief.His counsel submitted that the 2023 policy envisaged the holding of remedial classes to make up any short-fall in attendance but that the said policy was subsequently discontinued. He argued that the student has suffered a loss of one year for no fault of his.It was submitted that the 2024 policy too provides for the holding of the remedial classes, but that the student was not allowed to take them.The Court was also apprised that a similarly-situated student was earlier allowed by the High Court to undertake examination of first year MBBS Course along with the Second year MBBS course examination. .However, the counsel for respondents said since the petitioner had not appeared in the main examination on account of shortage of his attendance, he cannot be allowed to sit in the supplementary examination. The Court was also informed that MBBS students are required to have 75 per cent attendance in theory and 80 per cent in practical and clinical sessions for being eligible to appear in the University examination. With regard to the student granted relief by the High Court earlier, it was submitted that his attendance was short only in one subject but the petitioner’s attendance is less in all subjects..Considering the arguments, the Court stressed that since MBBS degree is intended for those who will eventually give medical treatment to human beings, the same is of significant importance. “In this regard, the Court recognizes the petitioner’s role as a future healthcare provider and acknowledges the responsibility they will have in influencing the well-being of the community,” the Bench noted.Emphasizing that every nation must strive for academic excellence, especially in fields like medicine, which have a direct impact on public health, the Court added,“A society that allows widespread incompetency cannot thrive, and therefore, educational standards must not be allowed to be degraded to substandard levels.”.Accordingly, the Court dismissed the petitions by the eight students.Advocates Bhavit Sharma and Hukam Singh represented the petitioners.Deputy Solicitor General of India Mukesh Rajpurohit, Advocate Aditi Sharma and Advocates Parbat Singh and Mahendra Vishnoi represented the respondents..[Read Judgment]
