Karnataka Ends Withholding of Medical Degree Certificates for Compulsory Service Doctors

The Karnataka government recently issued a landmark clarification on the Karnataka Compulsory Service by Candidates Completed Medical Courses Act, 2012, effectively decoupling the issuance of final degree certificates and original documents from the mandatory one-year rural service requirement.

Under the new directive, medical colleges and universities are prohibited from withholding degree certificates, course completion certificates, or original documents deposited during admission, resolving a long-standing grievance of medical graduates. This move ensures that doctors can pursue further education or professional opportunities without being blocked by administrative delays related to their service obligations.

Furthermore, the state has streamlined the registration process by allowing candidates who have not yet completed their service to receive temporary or conditional registration from the Karnataka Medical Council (KMC). This temporary status grants them the legal authority to treat patients and prescribe medicines while they wait for their mandatory service posting.

Permanent registration is granted only after the service is completed or an exemption is obtained; however, the requirement to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Health Department for initial registration has been abolished to reduce bureaucratic hurdles.

These updates, formalized in late 2025 and early 2026, follow years of legal disputes and legislative amendments (such as the 2024 and 2025 Amendment Acts). The government now prioritizes filling vacancies in rural areas but has acknowledged that if applicants exceed the number of available posts, graduates may be exempted to avoid a “financial burden” on the state.

This balanced approach aims to safeguard the public health system’s need for doctors while protecting the academic and professional mobility of medical graduates.

1 min read January 25, 2026