'Can't Be Harassed': MP High Courts Directs Return Of NEET-PG Candidate's Original Documents Withheld Over Technicalities

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed the Director of Medical Education to return the original documents of a postgraduate medical candidate who left his course mid-way, observing that the candidate could not be harassed on account of a technicality when the documents were admittedly in the authorities' possession. Justice Jai Kumar Pillai observed; "It goes without saying that the original documents are in possession with the respondent No.2 i.e. Director, Medical Education. The respondent No.2 was required to return the original documents and when he was aware that the original documents are in his possession and due to simple technicalities, the petitioner could not have been harassed and put to hardship by filing the present contempt petition". The case was regarding an MBBS graduate belonging to the Scheduled Tribe Category who appeared in NEET PG 2020 and secured an All India Rank of 79,171. He was allotted a seat in the Government Medical College during the second round of counselling and joined the course in July 2020. However, he was unable to continue the postgraduate programme, allegedly due to ragging, nepotism and favouritism. After discontinuing the course, the college retained the original documents and demanded Rs30 Lakhs under the State's seat, leaving the bond policy. Challenging the action, the counsel for the petitioner contended that the high bond amount was unjustified, particularly when several postgraduate seats remain vacant. He also pointed to discussions in the Lok Sabha on February 9, 2024, where the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare stated that the National Medical Commission had advised states to review stringent bond policies. As per the petition, the graduate had qualified for the post of Medical Officer pursuant to an advertisement dated August 8, 2024, issued by the MP Public Service Commission. He received acknowledgement on January 20, 2026 and was scheduled to appear for an interview on March 5, 2026. Submission in the said advertisement was mandatory by February 23, 2026. In this connected matter, the bench had granted interim relief to the petitioner by ordering the respondents to release his original documents. Subsequently, the petitioner filed a contempt petition against the respondents, alleging that they were deliberately failing to comply with the High Court's order. The bench thus directed the respondents to return the original documents, observed, "It is directed that the respondent No.2 who is the contemnor in the present contempt petition i.e. Director, Medical Education is hereby directed to return the original documents by latest 02nd March, 2026 to avoid any further contempt proceedings to be initiated by this Court".The case was further scheduled for March 9, 2026. Case Title: Dr Ajay Mandloi v Dr Aruna Kumar [CONC-1497-2026]For Petitioner: Senior Advocate Aditya Sanghi with Advocate Kamal Tiwari For State: Advocate Sudeep BhargavaClick here to read/download the Order

'Can't Be Harassed': MP High Courts Directs Return Of NEET-PG Candidate's Original Documents Withheld Over Technicalities

Jayanti Pahwa

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