Attendance in MBBS course requires strict adherence: Rajasthan High Court

Post By 24law
February 22, 2025

Pranav B Prem

The Rajasthan High Court has ruled that strict adherence to attendance requirements in medical education is essential, dismissing petitions filed by eight MBBS students who were not allowed to sit for their examinations due to attendance shortages. Justice Vinit Kumar Mathur emphasized the significance of maintaining high academic standards in the medical field, emphasizing that any relaxation in attendance norms could compromise the quality of future healthcare practitioners.

High Court’s Observations

The Court categorically stated: "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 petitioner, a student of Government Medical College, Barmer, contended that he had been unable to attend classes due to dengue. His counsel argued that the 2023 policy had permitted remedial classes to make up attendance shortages, but that policy was later discontinued. It was submitted that despite a new policy in 2024 allowing remedial classes, the petitioner was not given the opportunity to take them. However, the Court was informed that under the regulations, MBBS students are required to maintain at least 75% attendance in theory and 80% in practical and clinical sessions to be eligible for university examinations. The respondents argued that the petitioner had not met this requirement, and since he had missed the main examination due to attendance shortage, he could not be permitted to appear in the supplementary examination.

Importance of High Academic Standards

The Court reiterated the fundamental role of attendance in ensuring quality medical education, stating: "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." Furthermore, the Court observed: "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 petitioner also cited a precedent where another student was allowed to take both first-year and second-year MBBS examinations together. However, the Court noted a crucial distinction: in that case, the student had attendance shortages in only one subject, whereas the present petitioner’s attendance was deficient across all subjects.

Judicial Emphasis on Academic Rigor

The Court emphasized that medical education cannot compromise on rigor and that nations must uphold high academic standards, particularly in fields directly impacting public health. It noted: "A society that allows widespread incompetency cannot thrive, and therefore, educational standards must not be allowed to be degraded to substandard levels."

Verdict

In light of these considerations, the Rajasthan High Court dismissed the petitions, holding that the students had failed to meet the requisite attendance criteria. The Court affirmed that allowing students with insufficient attendance to sit for their exams would be contrary to the fundamental objectives of medical education and public health.