Doctors Seek Relief Over Bond Dispute
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court vacation bench granted major relief to two junior doctors from Maharashtra’s government-run JJ Hospital, directing the return of their original documents without insisting on the Rs 20 lakh bond deposit.
Reason for Resignation
The doctors, Swapnil Kopale from Navi Mumbai and Pooja Modanwal from Lucknow, had joined JJ Hospital between June and August 2025 for the MCh Neurosurgery course. They resigned citing unsanitary hostel conditions and severe sleep deprivation, raising concerns over overcrowding and lack of privacy, particularly for female residents.
Plea Filed for NEET Exam
Filing their plea, the doctors sought immediate release of their documents to appear in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for super-speciality courses, scheduled on December 26-27. They argued that the documents were essential for securing admission to other medical colleges.
Counsel Highlights Poor Hostel Conditions
Advocate Aditya Sanghi, representing the duo, highlighted the “deplorable and most pathetic condition of hostels” where up to five students shared a single room with no privacy. He emphasised that the doctors had resigned on November 17, 2025, due to these hardships and needed the documents to pursue their medical careers further.
College Argues Bond Rules
The college, through the Additional Government Pleader, cited rules requiring a Rs 20 lakh bond for non-completion of the junior residency tenure. It argued that documents could only be released after payment of the penalty, and any deposited fee would be non-refundable.
State Lawyer’s Position
The State lawyer suggested that the court could consider the doctors’ plea for the release of documents, while reserving final judgment on the bond-related issues. This left the court with discretion to grant interim relief.
Urgency for AIIMS Admission
Dr. Modanwal stressed that she had cleared the entrance exam for the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and could secure her seat only by submitting all original documents by December 31, 2025. The timely release of documents was therefore critical to her future.
HC Grants Immediate Relief
After considering the plea, the Bombay High Court directed that the original documents of the two junior doctors be returned immediately, without demanding the Rs 20 lakh bond deposit. Their lawyer confirmed that this relief would allow Dr. Modanwal to secure her AIIMS admission as planned.
