New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday strongly criticised the National Medical Commission (NMC) for failing to ensure payment of stipends to medical interns across the country, calling the lapse “deeply concerning” and “unjustified,” given the long hours worked by young doctors.

A bench of Justices Aravind Kumar and N.V. Anjaria said interns often work over 18 hours a day and that paying them stipends is “the bare minimum they deserve.” The court said the NMC appeared to be “dragging its feet” and directed it to act immediately.

The remarks came during hearings on petitions by Indian and foreign medical graduates over the non-payment or delay in internship stipends by several medical colleges. Advocate Tanvi Dubey represented the petitioners, while Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati appeared for the Health Ministry.

The court noted that despite a July 11, 2025, notice issued by the NMC to medical colleges, compliance had not occurred. It directed the NMC to file an affidavit within two weeks showing compliance and listing institutions that have published stipend details.

The bench observed that failure to implement the directions amounts to disregard of its earlier orders and asked the Health Ministry to ensure NMC's compliance.