Supreme Court Halts Medical Education Commission’s Seat Reduction Decision

Nepal Health News, Kathmandu: The Supreme Court has issued an interim order preventing the implementation of the decision by the Medical Education Commission to reduce seats in private medical colleges for postgraduate (PG) studies and proceed with the matching process.

A single bench of Justice Sapana Malla Pradhan heard the petition against the decision and issued a show cause order to the Commission. Additionally, a short-term interim order has been issued to halt the matching-related proceedings.

The Commission had decided to cut seats in 17 private medical colleges after they refused to provide an allowance equivalent to the eighth-level remuneration. However, this decision was challenged, leading 14 students to file a petition with the Supreme Court.

To discuss whether the interim order should continue, the Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing on Chaitra 26 and has summoned both parties.

For the new academic session, the Medical Education Commission had allocated 1,496 seats to private medical colleges. However, resident doctors have begun a service boycott from today, protesting the lack of an increased allowance.