COURT ORDERS COLLEGE TO GIVE NOC FOR DOC’S INTERNSHIP

MUMBAI: In a major relief to a doctor who was being harassed by his college regarding a one-year compulsory internship, the Bombay high court on Friday directed the college to issue him a no-objection certificate (NOC) within ten days. The doctor had requested the college to assign him an internship closer to Mumbai so that he could respond to an emergency concerning his relative, whom he was treating for schizophrenia. However, the college assigned him internship in Wada.

According to Dr Keshav Gupta, who presented his case before justice BR Gavai, he had completed a four-year homeopathy course in 2017-2018 from a Thane college and was assigned internship in a Wada hospital. However, in February 2018, he had applied for a transfer to a college in Vile Parle, as per the transfer rules of the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), which allows for a transfer owing to the health of a close relative. However, the college did not oblige. Gupta told the court that as the college failed to respond to his first application, he reapplied and also wrote to the MUHS and the students’ grievance cell.

The University told the college to issue Gupta an NOC, but the college did not comply over three months and in July, issued a letter rejecting his application.

The college said while Gupta’s application was being processed, he came to college and harassed the authorities and also threatened to commit suicide if his application was not expedited. Hence, the college lodged a complaint with the police against him. In light of his behaviour, the college rejected his transfer application.

After hearing both sides, justice Gavai directed Gupta to tender an unconditional apology to the college. After Gupta submitted the same, the court directed the college to issue him the NOC within ten days.