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The judgment also addressed the broader implications for universities and examining bodies responsible for implementing GMER. The Court directed that institutional authorities must scrutinise claims of discontinuation and, where satisfied that the break arose from genuine financial hardship or health issues, exclude such periods from the computation of the prescribed limit. It warned against a mechanical application of the regulation that ignores the individual circumstances of students.

In practical terms, the decision provides a clear precedent for MBBS students across the country who encounter unavoidable interruptions in their studies. It affirms that the statutory time frame is not an absolute bar but is subject to equitable considerations. The ruling is likely to influence the formulation of internal policies by medical colleges, prompting them to establish transparent procedures for assessing and condoning genuine breaks.

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The Court concluded by reiterating that the law must be interpreted in a manner that balances the objective of maintaining academic standards with the need to protect students from disproportionate hardship. It emphasized that the judgment does not dilute the requirement to complete the course within a reasonable period but merely ensures that genuine impediments are not held against the student’s progress.