Chennai : The Madras High Court has refused to grant relief to a postgraduate medical student who sought a six-month extension to join her government appointment as an Assistant Surgeon, citing ongoing studies.
Justice C.V. Karthikeyan ruled that the petitioner’s reasons were neither valid nor special, stating she knew at the time of applying that she would not be able to join duty. The court held that this amounted to suppression of facts and potentially denied an opportunity to another willing candidate ready to serve in rural health services.
The doctor, pursuing her PG degree at Velammal Medical College, was appointed under Tamil Nadu Medical Services at the Labour Mobile Medical Unit in Egmore, Chennai. After receiving the appointment, she requested a delay in joining, citing the postponement of her PG course.
The court, however, found no merit in her plea, clarifying that extensions under Section 7(5) of the Tamil Nadu Government Servants Act, 2016 can only be granted in extraordinary or unforeseen circumstances that arise after the selection — not pre-existing conditions.
The court also overruled a prior Single Judge’s decision that granted relief in similar situations, declaring it per incuriam for not addressing the issue in full context.
In its final observation, the bench emphasized that government posts, especially in rural healthcare, cannot be held in abeyance for personal academic commitments, reaffirming the need for integrity and transparency in public service recruitment.
