The Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS) has clarified that women postgraduate medical and dental students returning after maternity leave will not be required to pay a ₹15,000 rejoining fee. Issued in January 2026, the guidelines apply to all affiliated colleges in Telangana and state that maternity leave will be treated as sanctioned leave, with the course duration extended by the period of absence. The directive aims to ensure uniform implementation of maternity leave rules and prevent administrative delays during rejoining.
The Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS) has issued formal guidelines stating that women postgraduate medical and dental students will not be required to pay a ₹15,000 rejoining fee after returning from maternity leave. The clarification was issued in January 2026 and circulated to all affiliated colleges across Telangana.
The guidelines apply to women students enrolled in postgraduate and super-specialty medical and dental programs under KNRUHS. Both government and private medical colleges affiliated with the university fall within the scope of the directive.
According to the official communication, maternity leave will be treated as a sanctioned category of leave. Students resuming duty after maternity leave must be allowed to rejoin immediately without payment of any rejoining or readmission fee. The period of maternity leave will be added to the total duration of the postgraduate course to ensure completion of mandatory training requirements.
The clarification came into effect following its circulation to principals of affiliated institutions in Telangana in January 2026. It applies uniformly across all KNRUHS-regulated medical and dental colleges within the state.
Prior to this directive, maternity leave extending beyond 91 days was often treated as a “break of study.” This classification required students to pay a ₹15,000 rejoining fee and complete additional administrative procedures before resuming clinical duties. Several students reported delays in rejoining and temporary loss of access to training facilities due to procedural uncertainty. The university issued the clarification to remove ambiguity and ensure consistent implementation across colleges.
Under the revised framework, college authorities must permit immediate rejoining once a student reports back after maternity leave. The academic course will be formally extended by the duration of leave taken. Any remaining casual leave may be availed during the extended training period, as per institutional rules. No separate application or financial penalty is required solely due to maternity leave.
The guidelines do not alter rules for other types of leave. Non-maternity leave exceeding 90 days may still require formal readmission procedures and payment of a rejoining fee. Absence extending beyond two years continues to be grounds for cancellation of admission under existing academic regulations.
The clarification aligns with broader principles laid down by the National Medical Commission, which emphasize the protection of maternity benefits during medical training. KNRUHS has instructed all affiliated colleges to strictly comply with the updated directions to avoid procedural delays or inconsistent practices.
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