Four-attempt cap in MBBS exam includes regular, supplementary exams: Kerala High Court
The Kerala High Court ruled that both regular and supplementary exams count toward the four-attempt limit for clearing the First Professional MBBS degree. The court emphasized that academic regulations should not be subject to casual judicial interference.
Why it matters
This decision clarifies the strict regulatory framework for medical education in India, prioritizing professional competence and public safety over individual student leniency.
Both regular and supplementary examinations count toward the ‘four attempts within four years’ rule to clear the First Professional MBBS Degree examination, the Kerala High Court recently held.
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas found that a candidate could avail only four attempts, whether regular or supplementary examinations, and no further opportunity could be granted once those attempts were made. This was evident from the Graduate Medical Education Regulation, 2023, and the guidelines prescribed by the National Medical Commission (NMC), the court stated.
The court reasoned that regulations framed by academic bodies should not be subjected to judicial interference casually, especially when the issue concerned medical students, who ultimately cater to society’s health requirements and whose competence directly affects public health and safety.
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