New rules in UP change the consequences for discontinuing medical courses, signalling a significant shift in academic policies. (Pixabay) 
MedBound Blog

UP Ends Seat-Leaving Penalty: Candidates Discontinuing Medical Courses to Be Debarred

Uttar Pradesh's new policy introduces an unexpected twist for medical students discontinuing medical courses, reshaping the academic landscape

Ruchika Brahmmadandi, MD

In compliance to the government order No.-I/676928/2024 ON 26th June, Uttar Pradesh director of medical education and training has refrained from implementing the practice of penalties on undergraduate and postgraduate medical students to pay penalty in case of discontinuing the medical course midway, The state government has decided that the candidate instead would be debarred from attaining admission in the next academic session, as suggested in the paragraph-5 letter dated 19.01.2024 of NMC ( National medical council ).The new order rule also states that this will not be applicable to the candidates admitted before the academic session 2024-2025.

While responding to the query raised by Samajwadi party leader Man Singh Yadav in the Vidhan Parishad, Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak stated

No medical student will be required to pay a penalty for vacating a seat mid-session, the state government acknowledges that personal circumstances may compel such a decision and our administration empathies with the need of medical students.However such students will be debarred from seeking admission in the subsequent academic session
Brajesh Pathak, Deputy chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.
Uttar Pradesh removes the financial penalty for leaving medical courses, opting instead to debar candidates from the next academic year's counseling if they discontinue their studies.(Pixabay)

Man Singh Yadav also raised concern about students of SGPGIMS (Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences) being harassed due to the seat-leaving bond as Times of India reported. Even though the practise of seat-leaving was implemented to discourage students from leaving seats, and were being charged around 5 Lakhs in UP, it was not the same situation in several other states as the penalty reached up to 40 Lakhs.

Man Singh Yadav also commented on the statement made by the executive registrar of SGPGIMS, Col Varun Bajpai “Pragmatic and student-friendly" but in reality, there could be many situations, especially in postgraduate studies might feel that the selected subject might not align and wish to have a fresh start based on their skill set. Still, this penalty is a source of mental pressure but is being changed to benefit several such students and prevent the misuse of the seat-leaving penalty.

(Input from various media sources)

(Rehash/Dr. Ruchika Brahmmadandi/MSM)

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