MBBS student stuck in first year for over a decade at a Gorakhpur medical college; NMC asked to step in

At a government medical college in Gorakhpur, an undergraduate medical student has remained enrolled in the first year of the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) course for more than a decade, exposing a regulatory gap that the institution says it cannot resolve on its own.

The student, admitted to the 2014 batch at Baba Raghav Das Medical College, failed to clear the first-year MBBS examination in 2015. Since then, he has neither filled the examination form nor appeared for any subsequent attempt over the past 11 years, according to college authorities quoted by PTI.

Despite this prolonged academic absence, the student continues to hold a technically valid enrolment under existing medical education rules. The college has now approached the National Medical Commission (NMC), seeking guidance on how to proceed.

Enrolment without progression

Under current regulations governing medical education, a student who fails the first-year MBBS examination is not required to seek fresh admission. The student can reappear by filling the examination form whenever they choose. As a result, the enrolment does not automatically lapse.

In this case, that provision has left the college with little room to act. Officials told PTI that because the student remains enrolled on paper, the institution cannot cancel his admission.

The student has been residing in the undergraduate hostel since 2014 and is not participating in regular academic activities, the officials said.

Hostel stay and unpaid dues

The situation has been further complicated by the student’s continued stay in the hostel. According to college authorities, mess fees are collected along with the examination form. Since the student has not filled the form for several years, he has not paid mess charges but continues to avail boarding and lodging facilities.

The college said the active enrolment status makes it difficult to evict him from the hostel, even though he is not attending classes or appearing for examinations.

Counselling efforts and family response

College authorities said they conducted repeated counselling sessions with the student, but these efforts did not lead to any change. The administration then contacted the student’s father.

According to officials, the principal’s office made three phone calls requesting the father to visit the college. He has not done so, and has shown little concern for his son’s academic future, the officials added.

Matter referred to the NMC

With no clear mechanism available under existing rules to resolve the situation, the college has formally sought guidance from the National Medical Commission.

“A final decision will be taken only after clear directions are received from the NMC,” Principal Dr Ramkumar Jaiswal told PTI.

The case underscores how regulatory provisions designed to offer flexibility to students can, in rare instances, leave institutions without a clear path to act when academic participation ceases altogether.
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