Court Upholds State’s 2024 Policy, Removes Rural-Service Condition for Eligibility Under In-Service Medical PG Quota
Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has upheld the Haryana Government’s policy allowing in-service government doctors to apply for postgraduate MD/MS admissions under the 40% in-service quota.
The court’s decision provides relief to government doctors who had challenged eligibility restrictions linked to the requirement of completing a specified period of service in rural or remote areas.
40% In-Service Quota Upheld
Under Haryana’s September 2024 policy, all eligible in-service government doctors can compete for postgraduate medical seats under the 40% in-service quota.
The policy does not make completion of two years of service in rural or remote areas a mandatory condition for doctors seeking to participate in the in-service quota.
The High Court has now upheld this policy, strengthening the state government’s framework for postgraduate medical admissions for serving government doctors.
Relief for In-Service Doctors
The ruling is particularly significant for government doctors who wish to pursue MD/MS courses but may not have completed the previously prescribed rural or remote-service requirement.
By allowing the broader category of in-service doctors to apply, the policy expands the pool of government medical professionals eligible to compete for seats earmarked under the in-service quota.
Significance for Medical PG Admissions
The decision could have important implications for postgraduate medical education in Haryana. The in-service quota is intended to provide government doctors with an opportunity to pursue specialist training while strengthening the availability of trained specialists within the public healthcare system.
The High Court’s decision also provides greater clarity regarding eligibility under Haryana’s current admission framework and supports the state government’s decision to extend the opportunity to all eligible in-service doctors rather than restricting it only to those who have completed a specific rural or remote posting.
What the Decision Means for Doctors
Following the ruling, eligible in-service government doctors in Haryana can seek admission to MD/MS programmes through the 40% in-service quota without having to satisfy the earlier two-year rural or remote-service condition, subject to the applicable admission rules and eligibility requirements.
The judgment is therefore expected to be closely watched by government doctors preparing for postgraduate medical admissions in Haryana.
