Court Orders Issuance of No Objection Certificates and MBBS Degrees to Petitioners, Invalidating State's Enforcement of Lapsed Bond Obligations
Raipur, June 18, 2026 – In a landmark decision, the Chhattisgarh High Court has ruled in favor of medical graduates from the Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences, declaring that compulsory service bonds stand automatically cancelled if appointment orders are not issued within six months of completing their MBBS course and internship. The decision, rendered by Justice Amitendra Kishore Prasad, mandates the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOC) and the conferment of MBBS degrees to the petitioners without the imposition of bond-related penalties.
The case, filed by Niteen Kumar Singh and others, challenged the State's failure to issue appointment orders within the stipulated timeframe as per Rule 10(6) of the Chhattisgarh Medical, Dental and Physiotherapy Under Graduate Admission Rules, 2025. The petitioners argued that the State's inaction not only violated their legitimate expectations but also infringed upon their fundamental rights under Articles 14, 19(1)(g), and 21 of the Constitution of India.
The Court's judgment emphasized that Rule 10(6) clearly stipulates the automatic cancellation of bond obligations if the State fails to issue appointment orders within the prescribed six-month period. Justice Prasad noted that the statutory mandate is explicit and self-operative, leaving no room for the State to enforce obligations that have been extinguished by operation of law.
In defense, the State argued that the petitioners voluntarily participated in the counseling process and were therefore estopped from claiming relief. However, the Court dismissed this contention, stating that statutory rights cannot be waived through participation in belated counseling processes initiated by the State.
The Court's decision also highlighted the arbitrary nature of the State's actions, which restricted the petitioners' professional advancement and violated their constitutional rights to livelihood and dignity. The ruling is expected to have significant implications for similar cases, reinforcing the importance of adherence to statutory timelines by governmental authorities.
The judgment aligns with previous rulings, such as those in Doctors Rakhi Pandey vs State of Chhattisgarh and Doctors Manisha Agrawal vs State of Madhya Pradesh, where courts have consistently held that bond obligations cannot be enforced beyond the statutory period.
Bottom Line:
Automatic cancellation of compulsory service bonds occurs under Rule 10(6) of the Chhattisgarh Medical, Dental and Physiotherapy Under Graduate Admission Rules, 2025 if appointment orders are not issued within six months of MBBS course and internship completion. The State authorities cannot enforce obligations under a bond that stands extinguished by operation of law.
Statutory provision(s): Rule 10(6) of the Chhattisgarh Medical, Dental and Physiotherapy Under Graduate Admission Rules, 2025; Articles 14, 19(1)(g), and 21 of the Constitution of India
Niteen Kumar Singh v. State of Chhattisgarh, (Chhattisgarh) : Law Finder Doc id # 2927235
