Madras High Court directs Dr MGR Medical University to reschedule PG exams

NEW DELHI: The Madras High Court has recently ruled in favour of postgraduate (PG) medical students by setting aside the Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Surgery (MS) postgraduate theory exams. The court has directed Dr MGR Medical University, Tamil Nadu to reschedule the theory examinations which were originally scheduled for December 9, 2024.

The court's decision followed a writ petition filed by postgraduate students who highlighted that they were required to submit their theses by November 29, 2024, leaving only 10 days to prepare for the upcoming theory examinations. The petitioners argued that the schedule was unreasonable, and more preparation time was needed.

The court noted that other universities have scheduled their examinations for later dates, such as January 2025, and that rescheduling the exams would not impact the university's compliance with the National Medical Commission's timeline for completion by January 31, 2025.

“The respondents are directed to fix any other date for conducting the said examination either during the last week of December 2024 or the 1st week of January 2025 by strictly following the time frame fixed by the National Medical Council in its Public Notice, dated 07.08.2024,” the official court order read.

The Tamil Nadu Resident Doctors Association (TNRDA) appreciates the Madras High Court's judgment and urges the university to implement further reforms to ensure a fair and stress-free academic environment.

“This judgment is a significant step toward addressing systemic issues in medical education. We express our gratitude to the judiciary for prioritizing the mental health and academic performance of postgraduate students,” the official press release read.

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Key reforms suggested by TNRDA

• Minimum Preparation Gap: A minimum gap of 3–4 weeks must be maintained between the revised dissertation submission deadline (November 29, 2024) and the newly scheduled theory examinations.

• Streamlining Dissertation Approvals: The e-journal approval process, currently unclear, needs immediate standardization to avoid delays. Communication from external reviewers should also be streamlined to prevent last-minute corrections.

• Practical Examination Schedule: The university must announce practical/clinical examination dates promptly to help students plan their preparations effectively.

• Consistency in Deadlines: Recurring extensions, including the dissertation deadline (moved from November 22 to November 29), have disrupted academic timelines and added unnecessary anxiety. Consistency and timely planning are essential.