Chandigarh, November 21, 2025 — The Punjab & Haryana High Court didn’t hold back, calling out the Haryana government for blocking a doctor’s No Objection Certificate (NOC) just because he didn’t stand up when an MLA walked into the hospital during the COVID-19 crisis.
What Happened
Dr. Manoj was on emergency duty as a Casualty Medical Officer at a Haryana government hospital right in the critical time of the pandemic. An MLA came for visit into the emergency ward. The state claimed the MLA was felt disrespected that Dr. Manoj didn’t get up from his chair. Because of this small incident, the state issued disciplinary action against Dr. Manoj with a Show Cause Notice (SCN), and warned him of possible minor disciplinary punishment under Rule 8 of the Haryana Civil Services (Punishment & Appeal) Rules, 2016.
During this period of time, Dr. Manoj had obtained high enough marks to qualify for a postgraduate medical course. But as an in-service candidate, he needed an NOC to apply for the PG. The state refused to issue it, by giving excuse of the ongoing disciplinary process. Dr. Manoj replied in June 2024, clearing up that he didn’t recognize the MLA and didn’t mean any kind of disrespect by staying seated. Still, the state wouldn’t budge. No one made a final decision, and the NOC stayed out of reach.
How the Court Responded
Justices Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Rohit Kapoor didn’t mince words. They slammed the state’s actions, calling them “insensitive,” “arbitrary,” and based on “misplaced expectations” about what frontline medical staff should do.
The bench said it was “highly disturbing” to expect a doctor, busy with emergency COVID duty, to stand just because an MLA showed up — and even worse, to punish him for not doing so. They pointed out that the state simply ignored Dr. Manoj’s explanation that he didn’t recognize the MLA and meant no disrespect. Withholding the NOC while the show-cause proceedings dragged on, the court said, was an unfair roadblock for a doctor just trying to further his education.
The judges also reminded everyone that pursuing medical education takes relentless dedication, and government doctors are a lifeline for the public. They voiced real concern about “frequent reports” of politicians or patients’ relatives mistreating medical staff for no good reason.
The Court’s Decision
The High Court sided with Dr. Manoj and ordered Haryana to give him the NOC right away. They didn’t stop there — the state now has to pay ₹50,000 into the Poor Patient Welfare Fund at PGIMER, Chandigarh. The judges called the entire disciplinary action and NOC denial “unjust” and “manifestly arbitrary.”
Why This Ruling Matters
Respect for Professionals: The judgment puts its foot down — doctors, especially those working through emergencies, deserve respect, not power plays from politicians.
Rule of Law & Fairness: You can’t just dangle someone’s career or education over their head because of unresolved disciplinary proceedings.
Protection for Frontline Workers: In times like the pandemic, doctors face a mountain of challenges. The court made it clear: these professionals need dignity and support, not punishment over petty slights.
What’s Next
Haryana has to issue the NOC — the court’s order is clear. This could spark a larger conversation. Cases where doctors or other frontline workers get disciplined over minor gestures might start getting a closer look. Government departments may also rethink how they handle disciplinary actions, especially against healthcare workers who are already under enough pressure.