Doctors cannot avoid compulsory government bond after subsidized PG education: Allahabad HC
The Allahabad High Court has ruled that doctors who pursue post-graduate medical education in government institutions at subsidized rates cannot avoid the mandatory government service obligation attached to their admission.
A bench of Justice Shekhar B. Saraf and Justice Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary, sitting in Lucknow, on Monday (September 21, 2026) said that the two-year compulsory civil service requirement is to ensure availability of doctors in government hospitals and protect patients’ right to life.
The court stated that a mere administrative delay in granting posting does not in itself nullify the bail bond.
The Bench made the observation while hearing a petition filed by Dr. Aparupa Sen Gupta who completed her MD in Transfusion Medicine from Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI), Lucknow.
Dr. Sen Gupta argued that since the government did not provide her a post within three months of completing her course, her two years of compulsory service should be considered lapsed.
The court rejected this claim and noted that Dr. Sen Gupta has received a no-objection certificate from the government to pursue the Post-Doctoral Certificate Course (PDCC). The certificate specifically stated that the time spent on the course did not count toward her bond service, according to the order.
The bench also found that there was no provision in Uttar Pradesh under which failure to provide posting within three months would automatically release the doctor from custody.
However, the court found errors in the way Dr. Sen Gupta denied opportunity to participate in bond advisory. It noted that the counseling notice dated June 1, 2026 was for the 2022 batch of MD/MS applicants and the 2023 batch of diploma applicants, while the petitioner belonged to the 2021 batch.
The court directed the Director General of Medical Education and Training to conduct fresh counseling for Dr. Sen Gupta and allowed her to choose from the vacancies available in government medical colleges and educational institutions recognized by the National Medical Commission as per the order.
The bench directed the state to complete the exercise within four weeks from Sunday (September 27, 2026).
He also ordered that the 89 days that Dr. Sen Gupta worked as a senior resident at SGPGI after completing her PDCC, it was adjusted for her two years of compulsory civil service. He will continue to work as a senior resident at SGPGI until the new consultancy is completed, the Bench said.
Published – 22 Sep 2026 12:18 IST