Delhi HC seeks Centre's response on plea challenging PG medical seats allocation at AFMS

New Delhi: Considering a plea challenging the alleged disproportionate allotment of Postgraduate medical seats in Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) institutions, the Delhi High Court has issued notices to the Central Government and the Director General of AFMS.

The petition, filed by 16 ex-Army doctors contended that the current allocation system disproportionately favours serving officers while sidelining ex-servicemen. The court, presided over by Justice Vikas Mahajan, sought the Centre’s response and directed authorities to provide details of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) issued to officers eligible to join PG courses.

According to ANI report, the Delhi High Court on Friday issued a notice in the petition seeking a direction for the allocation of Post Graduate medical seats in AFMS institutions. The matter is now listed for further hearing on November 7.

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This petition has been moved by Major (Retired) Ashish Kumar Pandey and 15 other ex-army doctors through advocate Satyam Singh Rajput. The petition challenges the disproportionate allotment of seats, where 210 seats are reserved for Priority-I candidates, while the remaining 207 seats are left unrestricted for other priority categories, resulting in the marginalisation of ex-servicemen.

The petitioner has sought the court's indulgence to consider the issues raised of fairness, transparency, and equitable distribution of educational opportunities for ex-servicemen doctors pursuing higher medical education.

The present petition has been filed by ex-Short Service Commission (SSC) medical officers and SSC officers who have applied for their release, who are now categorised as Priority IV candidates for admission to Post Graduate Courses (MD/MS/DNB) in Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) institutions for the academic session 2025-28.

The grievance of the Petitioners is that Priority IV ex-servicemen doctors are subjected to alleged systematic discrimination in the NEET-PG counselling process. While 210 seats are reserved exclusively for Priority I (serving AFMS officers), the remaining 207 seats are left "unrestricted" for Priorities II, III, IV and V. In practice, this unrestricted pooling enables Priority III candidates (paramilitary/central government doctors) and Priority V candidates (civilians) to corner the bulk of seats in preferential subjects, leaving Priority IV ex-servicemen with only negligible or no clinical seats each year, despite being meritorious, the plea said.

Issuing notices in the case, the High Court has also allowed the interim prayer for providing the details of the No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued to the officers, enabling them to join the courses.

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