Medical degrees from Pak occupied Kashmir invalid

The medical council of India (MCI) announced qualification obtained from medical colleges located in Pakistan Occupied Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh (PoJKL) ineligible for the practice of medicine in India on Wednesday, a Hindustan Times report stated.

The notification stated, "Any medical institute in POJKL requires permission under the Indian Medical Council act, 1956 since the occupied territories are an integral part of India and therefore subject to Indian laws and regulations".

"Such permission has not been granted to any medical college in POKJL. Therefore any qualification obtained from medical colleges located within these illegally occupied areas of India shall not entitle a person for grant of registration under Indian Medical Council Act 1956 to practice Modern Medicine in India," the IMA notification dated August 10 states.

The act directed the medical qualifications granted by any university or medical institution in India which are included in the First Schedule shall be recognized medical qualifications for the purposes of the act, the notification added.