Temporary Doctors Get Major Relief; Entire Service Period to Be Considered for 2025–26 Admissions
In a significant relief for government doctors, the Madras High Court has ruled that doctors initially appointed on a temporary basis in regular posts and later regularised will be entitled to count their entire period of service for admission under the in-service quota for super-speciality medical courses.
Court Directs Authorities to Include Temporary Service
Justice M Dhandapani, while delivering the order, directed the State Selection Committee to treat such doctors as eligible in-service candidates by including their temporary service as qualifying service. The court clarified that service rendered in temporary posts borne out of regular cadre with time-scale pay must be considered for eligibility under the prescribed prospectus conditions.
Petition Filed by Dr G Arulvel
The ruling came in response to a petition filed by Dr G Arulvel, who was appointed as an assistant surgeon in 2021 on a temporary basis in a sanctioned post. He was later regularised on March 6, 2026, after successfully clearing a special qualifying examination.
Dr Arulvel approached the court seeking directions to consider his application for admission to super-speciality courses for the 2025–26 academic session under the in-service quota during Round-II counselling.
Court Allows Plea, Expands Benefit to Others
Allowing the plea, the High Court stated that not only the petitioner but also other similarly placed doctors must be considered eligible. The court ordered authorities to:
- Accept applications from all eligible temporary assistant surgeons
- Count their temporary service as qualifying service
- Process admissions based on inter se merit for available seats under the in-service quota
Impact on Medical Admissions
This judgment is expected to benefit a large number of government doctors who began their careers on a temporary basis but were later regularised. It ensures that their early years of service are not ignored during eligibility assessment for higher medical education.
The decision also brings clarity to admission rules and could influence similar cases across other states dealing with in-service quota policies.
