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Health
Kerala HC Grants Relief to FMGs: Stipend Entitled, Internship Fees Unlawful
✍️ Medical Dialogues
🗓 03 Sep 2026, 02:48 AM
👁 2
The Kerala High Court ruled that foreign medical graduates are entitled to the CRMI stipend and declared that the demand for internship fees lacks legal basis.
The Kerala High Court today delivered a judgment affirming that foreign medical graduates (FMGs) are entitled to receive the CRMI stipend as part of their training program. The court also held that the recent demand for internship fees imposed on FMGs has no legal foundation and therefore cannot be enforced.
In its ruling, the court clarified that the CRMI stipend is a statutory benefit designed to support FMGs during their internship in Kerala. The decision reaffirms the state's commitment to providing financial assistance to international medical professionals.
The judgment specifically addressed the claim that FMGs were required to pay additional internship fees. The court found that such a demand violated existing regulations and was not supported by any legal provision.
This relief is expected to ease the financial burden on FMGs and encourage more international doctors to join Kerala's healthcare workforce. The decision also signals a broader move towards greater transparency in the state's medical training policies.
The ruling has been welcomed by several medical associations, who argue that the stipend and fee structure should be clearly defined and legally enforceable. The High Court's decision is likely to prompt a review of internship fee policies across other Indian states.
In its ruling, the court clarified that the CRMI stipend is a statutory benefit designed to support FMGs during their internship in Kerala. The decision reaffirms the state's commitment to providing financial assistance to international medical professionals.
The judgment specifically addressed the claim that FMGs were required to pay additional internship fees. The court found that such a demand violated existing regulations and was not supported by any legal provision.
This relief is expected to ease the financial burden on FMGs and encourage more international doctors to join Kerala's healthcare workforce. The decision also signals a broader move towards greater transparency in the state's medical training policies.
The ruling has been welcomed by several medical associations, who argue that the stipend and fee structure should be clearly defined and legally enforceable. The High Court's decision is likely to prompt a review of internship fee policies across other Indian states.