Shimla:The High Court of Himachal Pradesh has criticised theNational Medical Commission (NMC)for failing to file its response in a case concerning mandatory internships forForeign Medical Graduates (FMGs), who attended online classes during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the recent hearing of the case, the HC bench comprising Justice Ajay Mohan Goyal ordered that if a response was not filed by the next date of hearing, the Director of the Apex Medical Commission and the Chairman must appear in the court in person. Also Read: Supreme court issues notice to NMC over delay in FMG Internship Amar Ujalahas reported that the HC bench has also ordered the production of all necessary records in the case. The HC bench stated that the failure to comply with the Court's order would constitute contempt and result in consequences. Observing that the respondent appears not to be taking the case seriously, the Court has listed the matter for a further hearing on November 17. During the COVID-19 pandemic period, students, who were pursuing their medical education abroad and had to undergo online classes during this period, had to undergo one or two years of internship as per the Indian Government's directive. In this case, the petitioners claimed that the Himachal Pradesh State Medical Council rejected their application even though they had completed the one-year internship. Meanwhile, it has been contended by the State Government that the period of internship depends on how long the students actually physically attended MBBS classes abroad. The students were enrolled for the MBBS programme abroad for the 2018-2023 academic year and thereafter they returned to India in February 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and completed their medical courses in July 2023. Therefore, they spent approximately three years in India attending online classes. Accordingly, the respondent authorities have decided to extend the internship period for these medical graduates from abroad from one year to two years. Also Read: 2 year CRMI! FMGs urge withdrawal of JnK medical council mandate, cite misinterpretation of NMC clarification