Posted By :  Admin1

The Supreme Court of India has issued a formal notice to the Union Government and the National Medical Commission (NMC) after receiving a Public Interest Litigation filed by the United Doctors’ Front (UDF) about the heavy working hours for resident doctors. Justices M.M. Sundresh and Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh issued the notice on August 22, 2025, directing both respondents to respond to the plea challenging the “inhuman” duty hours imposed on doctors.

The petition points out that guidelines from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare dating back to 1992 clearly limit working hours to 12 hours per day and 48 hours per week Despite this, UDF claims many residents still work between 70 to 100 hours weekly, often without sufficient rest. These long hours put doctors under chronic stress, lead to physical and mental exhaustion, and can even threaten patient safety.

The UDF is requesting that the Court reinforce the 1992 mandate and instruct all medical institutions, both public and private to create duty rosters that respect human physical and mental limits. The plea also highlights that the excessive workload violates the doctors' fundamental right to life and dignity under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The case is expected to be heard in the coming weeks.