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Medical degrees obtained from PoK invalid, says MCI

New Delhi | 12-Aug-2020

The Medical Council of India (MCI) has said that the medical degrees obtained from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) will not be registered and persons possessing such certificates will not be allowed to practice modern medicine in India.
In a notice, R.K. Vats, Secretary General of MCI, said: "This is to inform all concerned that the entire territories of UT of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are an integral part of India. Pakistan is in illegal and forcible occupation of a part of the territory".
The notice further states that "accordingly, any medical institution in Pakistan occupied Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (POJKL) requires permission/recognition under IMC Act, 1956. Such permission has not been granted to any medical college in POJKL".
"Therefore, any qualification obtained from medical colleges located in these 'illegally occupied areas of India' shall not entitle a person for grant of registration under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 to practice modern medicine in India."
Earlier in June this year, the Centre had advised students of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh against taking admissions in colleges or universities in Pakistan-administered-Kashmir (PaK) as the educational institutions there were not recognised by India.