Jashandeep Kaur and Ors v. Union of India and Ors

o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 1o o o o INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoATo CHANDIGARHo o o o o o o o o CWP-24261-2023o(O&M)o Dateoofodecision:o06.05.2025o o JashandeepoKauroandoothersoooo o o o o ....Petitionerso o V/so o UnionoofoIndiaoandoothersoo o o o o ....Respondentso o o CORAM:oo HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSHEELoNAGU,oCHIEFoJUSTICEoo o o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoSUMEEToGOELo Present:oo Mr.oHimanshuoArora,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner(s)oo o o inoCWP-24261-2023oandooCWP-25599-2023.oo o o Mr.oTejoBahadur,oYadav,oAdvocateoforoo o o Mr.oRamneekoVasudeva,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioneroo o o inoCWP-1380-2024.o o o Mr.oS.K.oRattan,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner(s)oo o o inoCWP-27009-2023oandoCWP-27662-2023,oCWP-1475-2024,oo o o CWP-31-2024oandoCWP-33-2024.oo o o Mr.oManbiroS.oBatth,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioner(s)oo o o inoCWP-29553-2023,oCWP-1050-2024.oo o o Mr.oGurcharanoDass,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioneroo o o inoCWP-25867-2023.o o o Mr.oSandeepoSharma,oAdvocateoforotheopetitioneroo o o inoCWP-3931-2025.o o o Mr.oSuniloKumaroRohilla,oAdvocateoandoo o o Mr.oSurinderoMohanoSharma,oAdvocateoforotheopetitionersoo o o inoCWP-26930-2024.o o o Mr.oAnuragoChopra,oAdditionaloAdvocateoGeneraloPunjaboandoo o o Mr.oSaliloSabhlok,oSr.oDAGoPunjab.oo o o Mr.oAniloChawla,oSenioroPaneloCounsel,oUOIoinoo o o CWP-24261-2023,oCWP-27009-2023,oCWP-27662-2023,oo o o CWP-32-2024,oCWP-31-2024,oCWP-33-2024,oo o o CWP-1050-2024,oCWP-1380-2024,oCWP-25867-2023,oo o o CWP-1475-2024oandoCWP-25599-2023.o o o Mr.oVipuloAggarwal,oSenioroPaneloCounseloUOIoo o o inoCWP-29553-2023oandoCWP-796-2024.o 2025.05.06g13:46 o o Mr.oRavioSharma,oSenioroStandingoCounseloandoo o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 2o o o o o Mr.oRaywantoKaushik,oAdvocateoforotheorespondent-o o o NationaloMedicaloCounsel.o o o Mr.oNareshoKumar,oAdvocateoforotheorespondent-o o o BabaoFaridoUniversityoofoHealthoSciences.oo o o o o o *****o SUMEEToGOEL,oJUDGEo

1.o o Byowayoofotheopresentocommonojudgment,oweoproceedotoodecideo theoinstantobatchoofofifteenoCiviloWritoPetitions,osinceothereoisocommonalityo ofotheofactsoandocongruityoofolegaloissuesothereinoasoconcededobyotheolearnedo rivalocounsel.ooTheodetailsoofotheseowritopetitionsoread,othus:o

1.oo JashandeepoKauroandoors.ov/soUnionoofoIndiaoandoors.(CWP-24261-o 2023)o

2.oo Sherrino Regio Vargheseo v/so Uniono ofo Indiao ando others(CWP-1050-o 2024)o

3.oo AsheroEslioLalov/soUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers(CWP-1380-2024)o

4.oo RajoKanwaroSinghov/soUnionoofoIndiaoandoors.o(CWP-1475-2024)o

5.oo RajanoSinghoandoanotherov/soUnionoofoIndiaoandootherso(CWP-25599-o 2023)o

6.oo SamridhioSharmaov/soUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers(CWP-25867-2023)o

7.oo ShauryaoThakurov/soUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers(CWP-27009-2023)o

8.oo SumedhoSharmaov/soUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers(CWP-27662-2023)o

9.oo GurleenoSinghov/soUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers(CWP-29553-2023)o

10.oo SimranoPassiov/soUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers(CWP-31-2024)o

11.oo IshwinderoSinghoHanjraov/soUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers(CWP-32-2024)o

12.oo LalitaoKorotanaoandoothersov/soUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers(CWP-33-o 2024)o

13.oo EareshoKumarov/soUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers(CWP-796-2024)o

14.oo AbhijeetoSinghoBeniwaloandoanotherov/soUnionoOfoIndiaoandoothers-o (CWP-26930-2024)oAJAYgKUMAR 2025.05.06g13:46 o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 3o o o

15.oo MohnishoBhangleov/soUnionoofoIndiaoandoothers(CWP-3931-2025)o o o Foro theo causeo ofo convenience,o theo factso areo drawno outo fromo CWP-24261-2023otitledoasoJashandeepoKauroandoothersovs.oUnionoofoIndiao andootherso(hereinafteroreferredotooasotheowritopetitionoinohand).o

2.o o TheowritopetitionoinohandopreferredounderoArticleso226/227oofo theoConstitutionoofoIndia,oinoessence,oentreatsoforotheograntoofobenefitoofotheo guidelines,oissuedobyotheoNationaloMedicaloCommissiono(hereinafteroreferredo too aso 'NMC')o ono 01.08.2023o (hereinaftero referredo too aso '01.08.2023o guidelines'),oalongwithonotificationodatedo01.09.2023o(hereinafteroreferredotoo aso'01.09.2023onotification'),oandoforoquashingoofotheopubliconoticeodatedo

03.10.2023oissuedobyotheoNMCo(hereinafteroreferredotooaso'03.10.2023opublico notice'),o ando consequentialo declaration/modificationo ofo theo resulto ofo theo petitionersoinotermsothereof.ooo

3.o o Shornoofonon-essentialodetails,otheorelevantomilieuoofotheolisoino theowritopetitionoinohandoisoadumbrated,othus:o

(i)o o TheopetitionersohadobeenoadmittedotootheoMBBSodegreeocourse,o ino theo academico sessiono forotheo yearo 2021-2022,o ino theo firstoprofessionalo examinationoinotheorespondentoNo.5-College.ooo

(ii)o o Resulto thereofo waso declaredo ono 02.05.2023,o whereino theo petitionersofailedoinotheirofirstoprofessionaloexamination.oo

(iii)o o Subsequently,o supplementaryo examinationo waso heldo ino June/July,o2023owhereinotheopetitionersohadoappeared.oo

(iv)o o Thereafter,o 01.08.2023o guidelineso cameo too beo issuedo byo respondentoNo.3-NMC.oo 2025.05.06g13:46 o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 4o o o

(v)o o Theo resulto ofo theo petitionerso quao theo supplementaryo examination(s)owasodeclaredoono18.08.2023.oo

(vi)o o 01.09.2023onotificationowasoissuedobyorespondentoNo.3-NMC,o relevantowhereoforeadsoasounder:o "CORRIGENDUMo o SUBJECT:o Competencyo Basedo Medicalo Educationo Curriculumo

(CBME)oGuidelineso–oNationaloMedicaloCommission.o sto o Kindlyoreferotootheocommunicationoofoevenono.odatedo01 oAugust,o 2023oonotheoaboveomentionedosubjectoandotooinformothatoprovisionsoatopageo 58oofoCBMEoisoamendedoasounder:o Pageo58oofoCBMEoGuidelineso Amendedopageo58oofoCBMEoGuidelineso Ino subjectso thato haveo twoo Ino subjectso thato haveo twoo papers,o theo learnero musto secureo minimumo 40%o ofopapers,o theo learnero musto secureominimumo50%oofomarkso markso ino aggregateo (botho paperso ino aggregateo (botho paperso together)otoopassoinotheosaidosubject.o together)o too passo ino theo saido subject.o Criteriao foro passingo ino ao Criteriao foro passingo ino ao subject:o Ao subject:o Ao candidateo shallo candidateo shallo obtaino 50%o markso ino obtaino 50%o markso ino aggregateo ando 60:40o (minimum)o oro Universityo conductedo 40:60o (minimum)o ino Universityo examinationo separatelyo ino conductedo examinationo separatelyo ino Theoryo ando ino Practicalo Theoryo ando ino Practicalo (practicalo (practicalo includes:o includes:o practical/clinicalo ando vivao practical/clinicalo ando vivao voce)oinoorderotoobeodeclaredoasopassedo voce)oinoorderotoobeodeclaredo inothatosubject.o asopassedoinothatosubject.o o

(vii)o o 03.10.2023opubliconoticeocameotoobeoissuedobyorespondentoNo.3-NMC,orelevantowhereoforeadsoasounder:o "PUBLICoNOTICEo o o ThisoisoinocontinuationotoonewoAmendmentoinoCBMEoGuidelineso issuedo througho "Corrigendum"o bearingo No.F.No.U/14021/8/2023-UGMEBodatedo01.09.2023owhereoaonewoamendmentowasointroducedotootheo CBMEoGuidelinesovideopageonumbero–o58.o o 2.o Aftero thorougho considerationo ofo theo subjecto matter,o ito haso beeno decidedothatoretrospectiveoeffectoinothisoconnectionoisonotopossible."o

(viii)o o Theopetitionersosoughtoforotheorevisionoofotheiroresult,oinotermso 2025.05.06g13:46 Igattestgtogthegaccuracygandofo01.08.2023oguidelinesoreadoalongwitho01.09.2023onotification,owhichowaso o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 5o o o notograntedoand,othus,otheopetitionersohaeoapproachedothisoCourtobyowayoofo theowritopetitionoinohand.ooo

(ix)o o Ono 07.11.2023,o thiso Courto hado passedo theo followingo ordero (hereinafteroreferredotooaso'07.11.2023ointerimoorder'):o o o "Asoperoofficeoreport,oserviceouponorespondentsoNo.3oando5oisostillo awaited.oo o o Leto fresho noticeso too respondentso No.3o ando 5o beo issuedo foro

29.3.2024.o o o Ino theo meantime,o aso pero theo resulto declaredo ono 18.08.2023,o theo petitionerso shallo beo giveno benefito ofo guidelineso datedo 01.08.2023o (AnnexureoP-6)oreadowithocorrigendumodatedo01.09.2023o(AnnexureoP-7)o andobeodeclaredopass."o

(x)o o Itoisoinothisofactualobackdrop,othatotheopresentowritopetition(s)o cameoupofororeceivingoconsiderationoatotheohandsoofothisoCourt.oo RivaloSubmissionso

4.o o Learnedocounseloappearingoforotheopetitionersohasoarguedothato theo petitionerso hado appearedo ino theo supplementaryo examinationo heldo ino June/July,o2023oandoresultothereofowasodeclaredoono18.08.2023,obutoinoviewo ofo 01.09.2023o notificationo beingo retrospectiveo ino nature,o theo respondentso oughtotoohaveorevisedotheoresultoofotheopetitionersoinoconsonanceotherewith.oIno orderotoobuttressohisoarguments,otheolearnedocounseloforotheopetitionersohaso reliedouponoaojudgmentopassedobyoaoDivisionoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoMadraso Higho Courto ono 23.01.2025o passedo ino WA-333-2024o ando titledo aso Theo Controllero ofo Examinations,o Pondicherryo University,o Pondicherryo vs.o MeghaoMariaoJoeoandootherso&oaojudgmentoofoaoDivisonoBenchoofotheo Hon'bleoKeralaoHighoCourtodatedo28.02.2025opassedoinoWA-403-2025oando titledoasoNationaloMedicaloCommissionovs.oAntonyoP.oAlappatoandoothers:o 2025.05.06g13:46 o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 6o o o 2025:o KER:o 22334.o o Learnedo counselo haso furthero iteratedo thato theo respondentsocannotobeopermittedotoopleadothat,osinceotheoexaminationohado commencedopriorotoo01.08.2023,otherefore,otheo01.08.2023oguidelinesoando

01.09.2023onotificationocouldonotobeoappliedoandotheopetitionersowereotoobeo governedobyotheoguidelinesopriorothereto.ooInootherowords,olearnedocounselo haso urgedo thato thougho theo petitionerso appearedo ino theo examinationo ino question,opriorotootheopromulgationoofo01.08.2023oguidelines,obutotheiroresultso wereodeclaredoono18.08.2023oi.e.oafterotheopromulgationoofotheo01.08.2023o guidelineso&ohenceotheyooughtotoobeoaccordedoitsobenefit.oFurther,obyovirtueo ofotheo01.09.2023onotificationobeingosolelyoclarificatoryoinonature,oitowouldo relateobackotoo01.08.2023oi.e.owhenotheo01.08.2023oguidelinesowereoissuedo andothusotheosameooughtotoobeogivenoretrospectiveoeffect.oItohasobeenofurthero contendedothatotheo03.10.2023opubliconoticeoisoinodirectocontraventionoofotheo settledocanonsoofostatutoryointerpretationowhichounequivocallyoprovideothatoao clarificatoryonotificationoisotoobeoconstruedoasooperatingoretrospectivelyo&o anyointerpretationotootheocontraryowouldodefeatotheoveryoobjectoandopurposeo ofosuchoclarificatoryolegislation.o o o Learnedo counselo haso furthero imploredo that,o wheno twoo interpretationso areo possible,o theo oneo whicho iso beneficialo too theo rightso ofo students/candidatesooughtotoobeoadopted.oo o o Learnedocounselohasofurtherosubmitted,obyoplacingorelianceoupono

07.11.2023ointerimooorder,othatotheopetitionersowereoaffordedotheobenefitoofo

01.08.2023o guidelineso reado witho 01.09.2023o notificationo aso ano interimo measureoandoconsiderableotimeohavingoelapsedosinceothen,otheosaidointerimo 2025.05.06g13:46 benefitooughtotoobeomadeoabsoluteoonotheogroundoofoequityoalone.oo o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 7o o o o o Onotheostrengthoofotheseosubmissions,otheograntoofowritopetitiono inohandoisovociferouslyoentreatedofor.oo

5.o o Upono noticeo ofo motiono havingo beeno issued,o theo respondento No.1-UOIo causedo appearanceo througho counselo buto noo replyo haso beeno furnished.ooSimilaroisotheosituationoinorespectooforespondentoNo.2-Stateoofo Punjab.o

5.1.o o Learnedo counselo appearingo foro respondento No.3-NMC,o whileo raisingosubmissionoinotandemowithotheoreplyofiledobyoNMC,ohasourgedothato sinceo theo supplementalo examinationso areo continuationo ofo theo maino professionaloexaminations,oasosuchothereocannotobeotwoosetsoofoevaluationo methodologyo foro theo maino examinationo ando supplementalo examinationo &o henceotheopetitionersoareonotoeligibleoforolowered/modifiedopassingostandards.o Ito haso beeno furthero iteratedo thato theo resulto ofo theo petitionerso cameo too beo declaredo ono 18.08.2023o ando thuso theyo cannoto beo extendedo theo benefito ofo

01.09.2023o notification.o Learnedo counselo haso furthero urgedo thato theo

01.09.2023onotification,obyoitsointrinsiconatureoitself,oreflectsothatoitoisonoto clarificatoryoinoessenceoandohenceoitocannotobeosaidotoobeoretrospectiveoino nature.o Ino anyo case,o itohasobeeno expresslyo clarifiedobyo 03.10.2023opublico noticeo thato theo 01.09.2023o notificationo cannoto beo construedo too beo retrospectiveo ino nature.o o Learnedo counselo haso furthero iteratedo thato theo examinationoinoquestionopertainsotootheoMBBSodegreeocourseoandothus,otheo highorequisiteostandardsoareorequiredotoobeoscrupulouslyomaintainedotherein.o

5.2.o o Learnedo counselo appearingo foro respondento No.4-Babao Farido UniversityoofoHealthoSciences,owhileoraisingosubmissionsoinotandemowithotheo 2025.05.06g13:46 replyoandotheoadditionaloaffidavitosubmittedoonoitsobehalf,ohasoarguedothatotheo o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 8o o o resultoofotheofirstoprofessionalosupplementaryobatcho2021oexaminationowaso declaredo ono 18.08.2023o i.e.o mucho beforeo theo issuanceo ofo theo 01.09.2023o notificationoandothusonoobenefitothereofocanobeoextendedotootheopetitioners.oo Placingo relianceoono03.10.2023o publico notice,o ito haso beenourgedo thato anyo dispute(s)oregardingoapplicabilityoofo01.09.2023onotificationohasobeenoputotoo restoasotheosameohasobeenoclarifiedotoobeoprospectiveoinonature.ooo

5.3.o o Noneo haso causedo appearanceo ono behalfo ofo respondento No.5-Collegeodespiteoservice.oo o o Onotheostrengthoofotheseosubmissions,otheodismissaloofotheowrito petitionoinohandoisocanvassedoforobyotheolearnedocounseloappearingoforotheo representedorespondents.oo

6.o o Weohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheorivalopartiesoandohaveo perusedotheorecord.oo PrimeoIssueo

7.o o Theoprimeoissueothatoarisesoforoconsiderationoisoasotoowhetherotheo petitionersooughtotoobeoaffordedotheobenefitoofo01.08.2023oguidelinesoreado witho01.09.2023onotification.oo o o Theoanalogousoissueowhichoarisesoforocogitationoisoasotoowhethero theo 01.09.2023o notificationo iso requiredo too beo consideredo too beo merelyo clarificatoryo ino natureo soo aso too enableo allo concernedo too applyo ito ino ao retrospectiveomode,oespeciallyoinoviewoofotheo03.10.2023opubliconoticeoissuedo byorespondentoNo.3-NMC.oo Analysisoo

8.o o Weonowoproceedotoodilateoonotheorivalosubmissionsomadeoono 2025.05.06g13:46 behalfoofotheorepresentedorespondents.oooo o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 9o o o Re:o Whethero 01.09.2023o notificationo iso requiredo too beo appliedo retrospectivelyo oro prospectivelyo i.e.o whethero theo changeso ino

01.09.2023onotificationowouldobeoapplicableofromo01.08.2023o onwardsoorofromo01.09.2023oonwardsoonly.oo

9.o o Theo pivotalo pointo involvedo ino theo liso ino hando iso theo dateo ofo applicabilityoofo01.09.2023onotification.ooBeforeoproceedingofurther,oitowouldo beoappositeotooreferohereinotootheocaseolawogermaneotoothisoissue:o

(i)o o AoFouroJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseo titledoasoArjanoSinghoandoanotherovs.oStateoofoPunjaboandoothers,o1970oAIRo SupremeoCourto703,ohasoheldothus:o o "3.o Itoisoaowellosettledoruleoofoconstructionothatonooprovisionoinoaostatuteo shouldobeogivenoretrospectiveoeffectounlessotheolegislatureobyoexpressotermso orobyonecessaryoimplicationohasomadeoitoretrospectiveoandothatowhereoao provisiono iso madeo retrospectiveo careo shouldo beo takeno noto too extendo itso retrospectiveoeffectobeyondowhatowasointended."o

(ii)o o AoThreeoJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseo ofoCommissioneroofoIncome-tax,oBombayoetc.ovs.oM/soPodaroCementoPvt.o Ltd.oetc.o1997(5)oSCCo482ohasoheldoasounder:o o "45.o Inoouroview,otheocircumstancesounderowhichotheoamendmentowaso broughtointooexistenceoandotheoconsequencesoofotheoamendmentsowillohaveo aogreaterobearingoinodecidingotheoissueoplacedobeforeous.ooInootherowords,o ifo aftero discussiono weo comeo too ao conclusiono thato theo amendmento waso clarificatory/declaratoryo ino natureo and,o therefore,o ito willo haveo retrospectiveoeffectothenoitowillosetoatorestotheocontroversyofinally."o

(iii)o o AoFiveoJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseo ofo Commissionero ofo Incomeo Taxo (Central)-I,o Newo Delhio vs.o Vatikao TownshipoPrivateoLimited,o2015(1)oSCCo1,ohasoheldoasounder:o o "32.oo Theoobviousobasisoofotheoprincipleoagainstoretrospectivelyoisotheo AJAYgKUMAR principleoofo'fairness',owhichomustobeotheobasisoofoeveryolegaloruleoasowaso 2025.05.06g13:46 o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 10o o o observedoinotheodecisionoreportedoinoL'OfficeoCherifienodesoPhosphatesov.o Yamashita-Shinnihono Steamshipo Co.Ltd,o (1994)o 1o ACo 486.o Thus,o legislationsowhichomodifiedoaccruedorightsoorowhichoimposeoobligationsooro imposeo newo dutieso oro attacho ao newo disabilityo haveo too beo treatedo aso prospectiveounlessotheolegislativeointentoisoclearlyotoogiveotheoenactmentoao retrospectiveoeffect;ounlessotheolegislationoisoforopurposeoofosupplyingoano obviousoomissionoinoaoformerolegislationoorotooexplainoaoformerolegislation.o Weoneedonotonoteotheocornucopiaoofocaseolawoavailableoonotheosubjecto becauseo aforesaido legalo positiono clearlyo emergeso fromo theo variouso decisionso ando thiso legalo positiono waso concededo byo theo counselo foro theo parties.oInoanyocase,oweoshalloreferotoofewojudgmentsocontainingothisodicta,o aolittleolater.o o 33.oo Weowouldoalsoolikeotoopointoout,oforotheosakeoofocompleteness,othato whereo ao benefito iso conferredo byo ao legislation,o theo ruleo againsto ao retrospectiveoconstructionoisodifferent.oIfoaolegislationoconfersoaobenefitoono someopersonsobutowithoutoinflictingoaocorrespondingodetrimentoonosomeo otheropersonooroonotheopublicogenerally,oandowhereotooconferosuchobenefito appearsotoohaveobeenotheolegislatorsoobject,othenotheopresumptionowouldobeo thatosuchoaolegislation,ogivingoitoaopurposiveoconstruction,owouldowarranto itotoobeogivenoaoretrospectiveoeffect.oThisoexactlyoisotheojustificationotootreato proceduraloprovisionsoasoretrospective.oInoGovernmentoofoIndiao&oOrs.ov.o IndianoTobaccooAssociation,(2005)o7oSCCo396,otheodoctrineoofofairnesso wasoheldotoobeorelevantofactorotooconstrueoaostatuteoconferringoaobenefit,oino theocontextoofoitotoobeogivenoaoretrospectiveooperation.oTheosameodoctrineo ofofairness,otooholdothatoaostatuteowasoretrospectiveoinonature,owasoappliedo inotheocaseoofoVijayov.oStateoofoMaharashtrao&oOrs.o(2006)o6oSCCo286.oIto wasoheldothatowhereoaolawoisoenactedoforotheobenefitoofocommunityoasoao whole,oevenoinotheoabsenceoofoaoprovisionotheostatuteomayobeoheldotoobeo retrospectiveo ino nature.o However,o weo areo confrontedo witho anyo sucho situationohere.o

(iv)o o Theo Hon'bleo Supremeo Courto ino ao judgmento titledo aso Sreeo Sankaracharyao Universityo ofo Sanskrito ando otherso vs.o Dr.o Manuo ando Another,o2023oSCCoOnLineoSCo640,ohasoheldothus:o o "45.o Itoisotriteothatoanyolegislationooroinstrumentohavingotheoforceoofolaw,o whichoisoclarificatoryooroexplanatoryoinonatureoandopurportoandowhicho 2025.05.06g13:46 seeksotooclearodoubtsoorocorrectoanoobviousoomissionoinoaostatute,owouldo o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 11o o o generallyo beo retrospectiveo ino operation,o video Ramesho Prasado Verma.o Therefore,oinoorderotoodetermineowhetherotheoGovernmentoOrderodatedo 29thoMarch,o2001omayobeomadeoapplicableoretrospectively,oitoisonecessaryo tooconsiderowhetherotheosaidoorderowasoaoclarificationooroaosubstantiveo amendment.o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o 52.o Fromotheoaforesaidoauthorities,otheofollowingoprinciplesocouldobeo culledoout:o o i)oIfoaostatuteoisocurativeooromerelyoclarificatoryoofotheopreviouso law,oretrospectiveooperationothereofomayobeopermitted.o o ii)o Ino ordero foro ao subsequento order/provision/amendmento too beo consideredoasoclarificatoryoofotheopreviousolaw,otheopre-amendedo lawooughtotoohaveobeenovagueooroambiguous.oItoisoonlyowhenoito wouldobeoimpossibleotooreasonablyointerpretoaoprovisionounlessoano amendmentoisoreadointooit,othatotheoamendmentoisoconsideredotoobeo aoclarificationooroaodeclarationoofotheopreviousolawoandothereforeo appliedoretrospectively.o o iii)oAnoexplanation/clarificationomayonotoexpandooroalterotheoscopeo ofotheooriginaloprovision.o o iv)o Merelyo becauseo ao provisiono iso describedo aso ao clarification/explanation,o theo Courto iso noto boundo byo theo saido statemento ino theo statuteo itself,o buto musto proceedo too analyseo theo natureoofotheoamendmentoandothenoconcludeowhetheroitoisoinorealityo ao clarificatoryo oro declaratoryo provisiono oro whethero ito iso ao substantiveoamendmentowhichoisointendedotoochangeotheolawoando whichowouldoapplyoprospectively."o

9.1.o o CraiesoonoStatuteoLaw,oFifthoEdition,opp.56-57),owhichohasometo withoapprovalobyoaoFiveoJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinoao caseotitledoasoCentraloBankoofoIndiaoandoothersovs.oTheiroWorkmen,oetc.,o 1960oAIRoSupremeoCourto12,oiteratesoasounder:o o "ForomodernopurposesoaodeclaratoryoActomayobeodefinedoasoanoActotoo removeodoubtsoexistingoasotootheocommonolaw,oorotheomeaningooroeffectoofo anyostatute.ooSuchoActsoareousuallyoheldotoobeoretrospective.ooTheousualo 2025.05.06g13:46 reasono foro passingo ao declaratoryo Acto iso too seto asideo whato Parliamento o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 12o o o deemso too haveo beeno ao judicialo error,o whethero ino theo statemento ofo theo commonolawooroinotheointerpretationoofostatutes.ooUsually,oifonotoinvariably,o suchoanoActocontainsoaopreamble,oandoalsootheowordo"declared"oasowelloaso theowordo'enacted'".oo o o ToosimilaroeffectoisotheoenunciationoexplainedobyoJusticeoG.P.o thSingho ino theo Principleso ofo Statutoryo Interpretations,o 13 o Editiono 2012o publishedobyoLexisoNexisoButtersworthsoWadhwa,oNagpurowhichohasometo withotheoapprovalofromotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseoofoVatikao Townshipo(supra).o

9.2.o o Theogeneraloprincipleoofolawowhichoemergesoherein,ofortifiedobyo theolongstandingojurisprudence,oisothatoaostatuteo―ooroanyoamendmentotheretoo ―o iso operationalo ando applieso prospectively,o unlesso theo statuteo explicitlyo provideso foro ao retrospectiveo application,o oro sucho ano intentiono cano beo necessarilyoinferredobyoanoinevitableoimplication.oItoisoaowell-settledocanonoofo interpretation,osanctifiedobyotimeoandojudicialopronouncements,othatostatuteso whichocreateonewosubstantiveorightsooroextinguishoexistingosubstantiveorightso areopresumedotoobeooperationaloprospectively.oTheiroretrospectiveooperationo canoonlyobeojustifiedoifotheolanguageoemployedobyotheolegislature,oclearlyoando unequivocally,o mandateso sucho ano application.o Theo rationaleo underpinningo thisovenerableoruleoisothatotheopresentoconductoofoindividualsooughtotoobeo governedo byo theo legalo norms,o currentlyo ino force;o ando theo lawo shouldo noto retroactivelyoimpingeouponotheoactivitiesocompletedounderoanoearlierolegalo framework.oEveryopersonoisopresumedotoobeoentitledotooorderoandoregulateohiso oroheroaffairs,oinorelianceouponotheoextantolegaloregime,oandoshouldonotofindo theosettledoexpectationsoconfoundedobyoretrospectiveoalterationsoofotheolaw.o 2025.05.06g13:46 o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 13o o o Theolegalomaximolexoprospicitononorespicito―otheolawolooksoforward,onoto backwardo―oeloquentlyoencapsulatesothisofoundationaloprinciple.oo o Ergo,o ito musto beo regardedo aso ao cardinalo ruleo thato unlesso ao notificationo oro circularo expresslyo oro byo necessaryo intendmento declareso itso retrospectiveoapplication,otheocourtsooughtonototooinferosuchoanooperation.oTheo goldeno ruleo ofo interpretationo mandateso thato theo legislativeo intento musto beo discernedo fromo theo wordso used,o accordingo too theiro plain,o ordinary,o ando grammaticalomeaning.oMoreover,otheocontextoandocircumstancesosurroundingo theopromulgationoofotheostatute,otogetherowithotheolegaloconsequencesoflowingo therefrom,omustobeoaccordedosignificantoweightageoinodeterminingowhetheroao changeoinoaostatute/ruleoshouldobeoconstruedoasooperatingoretrospectively.oAno exceptionotoothisogeneralopresumptionopromulgatesoinotheocaseoofostatutesooro amendmentsowhichoareopurelyodeclaratoryooroclarificatoryoinonature.oWhereoao subsequentoenactmentomerelyoclarifiesotheolaw,oasoitoalwaysooughtotoohaveo beenounderstood,owithoutoeffectingoaosubstantiveochange,osuchoaolegislationo may,obyoitsoveryocharacter,obeoappliedoretrospectively.oHowever,oitomustobeo demonstrablyo clearo thato theo intento ofo theo legislatureo waso too resolveo ambiguitiesoorodoubtsoinotheoantecedentolaw,oratherothanotoopromulgateoano entirelyoneworegime.o o o o Althougho theo aboveo ratioo decidendio pertainso primarilyo too statutoryoenactmentsoandoamendments,otheoprinciplesoenunciatedothereinoareo equallyoapplicable,omutatisomutandis,otoonotifications,ocirculars,oorodirectiveso possessingotheoforceoofolaw,oissuedobyostatutoryoauthorities,oincludingotheo NMC.oo 2025.05.06g13:46 o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 14o o o

9.3.o o Revertingotootheofactualomatrixoofotheowritopetitionoinohand;otheo

01.08.2023o guidelineso introduceo ano entirelyo newo regulatoryo frameworko governingo theo standardso ofo assessmento ando theo procedureo foro evaluation,o therebyoeffectuatingoaosubstantiveodepartureofromotheopre-existingoregime.oo Theo 01.08.2023o guidelines,o beingo constitutiveo ofo substantiveo rightso ofo obligationso cannoto ––o absento ano expresso provisiono oro ano necessaryo implicationo––obeoconstruedoasohavingoretrospectiveooperation.ooFurthermore,o Clauseo3oofo01.08.2023oguidelinesounequivocallyostipulatesothatotheyoshallo stcomeointooforceowithoeffectofromo1 oAugust,o2023,otherebyorenderingotheo intentiono ofo theo promulgatingo authorityo manifestlyo clearo &o beyondo cavil.o Furthermore,o theo 01.09.2023o notificationo doeso noto expresslyo provideo anyo guidanceoasotoowhetheroitowouldoapplyoprospectivelyoororetrospectively.ooTheo titleo ofo 01.09.2023o notificationo describeso ito aso "Corrigendum"o buto bodyo thereofo informso thato theo relevanto provisiono containedo ato pageo No.58o ofo

01.08.2023o guidelineso iso "Amended".o o Further,o ano analyticalo perusalo ofo

01.09.2023onotification,oreflectsothatoitodoesobringoinoaosubstantialochangeo namelyoreducingotheopassingomarksofromo50%otoo40%.ooThisoisoindubitablyoao substantialochangeoinotheo01.08.2023oguidelines.ooTheolanguageoemployedoino

01.09.2023onotification,oasowelloasotheosubstantiveoalteration(s)ointroducedo thereby,o incontestablyo indicateso thato theo 01.09.2023o notificationo iso noto merelyoclarificatoryoinonature.oRather,oitoeffectsoaofundamentaloandomaterialo departureofromotheo01.08.2023oguidelines.oItodoesonotopurportotooelucidateooro removeoambiguitiesoinherentoinoearlieronotification;oinsteadoitoestablishesonewo &odistinctopassingomarksostandard,otherebyoalteringotheosubstantiveorightso 2025.05.06g13:46 obligationsocontemplatedounderotheo01.08.2023oguidelines.oStillofurther;otheo o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 15o o o gap,oifoany,ostandsoforeclosedobyo03.10.2023opubliconoticeowhereinoitohaso beenospecificallyonotifiedobyoNMCothatoretrospectiveoeffectoofo01.09.2023o notificationoisonotopossible.ooo o o Theoaccrualoofotheocauseoofoactionoinorelationotootheostandardso foropassingo&otheoprocessoofoevaluationoisoinextricablyolinkedotootheodateoono whicho theo examinationo iso held.o o Ino theo absenceo ofo ano expresso ando unambiguousodirectionobyotheodulyoempoweredoauthorityoentrustedowithotheo conductoofosuchoexamination,oanyosubsequentoalterationo––owhetheroinotheo minimumo qualifyingo markso oro ino evaluativeo methodologyo ––o cannoto beo imposedoretrospectively.ooTheorightsoandoliabilitiesoofoaocandidateomustobeo determinedoinoaccordanceowithotheorulesoandocriteriaoinoforceoatotheotimeotheo examinationoisoundertaken,otoodoootherwiseowouldonotoonlyooffendoprincipleso ofofairnesso&olegalocertaintyobutowouldoalsooimpermissiblyoimpairovestedo rights.o o Ito iso thuso indubitableo thato 01.08.2023o guidelineso aso wello aso

01.09.2023onotificationomustonot,obyoanyostretchoofolegaloimagination,obeo appliedoretrospectivelyoi.e.otootheoexamsoconductedopriorothereto,oirrespectiveo ofotheodateoofodeclarationooforesults.ooo

9.4.o o Thereoisoyetoanotheroaspectonayopertinentoaspectoofotheolisoino handowhichorequiresotoobeodelvedointo.o Itoisoaowell-settledopropositionoino academicojurisprudenceothatosupplementaryoexaminationsodoonotoconstituteoao distinctooroautonomousoevaluativeoexercise,obutoratherooperateoasoanoancillaryo orocontinuativeocomponentoofotheoprincipaloexaminationocycle.ooTheyoare,oino essenceo andoeffect,oano extensionoofo theo maino examination,o andotherefore,o oughtotoobeogovernedobyotheosameocorpusoofoproceduralonorms,oregulatoryo 2025.05.06g13:46 mandates,o ando evaluativeo standardso ––o including,o buto noto limitedo to,o theo o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 16o o o prescribedosyllabus,ominimumoqualifyingothresholds,oandoeligibilityocriteria.oo Absentoanoexpressoandounequivocalodepartureoarticulatedobyotheocompetento statutoryo authorityo vestedo witho theo regulatoryo oversighto ofo sucho examinations,o anyo attempto too applyo ao divergento seto ofo standardso too theo supplementaryoassessmentowouldobeolegallyountenableoandojurisprudentiallyo unsound.o o Too holdo otherwiseo wouldo noto onlyo violateo theo principleso ofo uniformityoandoparityoinoacademicoassessmentobutowouldoalsooengenderograveo andomanifestoprejudiceotoocandidatesobelongingotootheosameoacademicocohorto whoohadosuccessfullyoclearedotheomainoexaminationounderotheoextantonorms.oo o o Theocontentionoadvancedoonobehalfoofotheopetitioners,oinvokingo theoprinciplesoofolexomitioroorotheoRuleoofoLenityotooseekotheobenefitoofotheo

01.08.2023o guidelineso alongo witho 01.09.2023o notification,o iso equallyo untenable.o Theo saido doctrine,o thougho recognizedo ino penal/criminalo jurisprudence,o cannoto beo indiscriminatelyo transposedo too theo contexto ofo professionalo academico qualifications,o especiallyo oneo aso sensitiveo ando paramountoasotheoMBBSocourse,owhichodirectlyoinvolvesopublicohealthoando safety.o o Theo NMC,o beingo theo designatedo regulatoryo bodyo vestedo witho statutoryocompetenceoandodomainoexpertise,ohasoconsciouslyotakenoaopositiono contraryotootheopetitioners'oplea(s).ooThisoconsideredopositionoofotheoexperto bodyomustobeoaccordedodueodeference,olestotheojudicialoprocessoinadvertentlyo substituteoitsoownojudgmentoforothatoofotheospecializedoauthorityoinomatterso demandingotechnicaloproficiencyoandosectoralooversight.ooooo o o Ergo,o theo petitionerso cannoto beo extendedo theo benefito ofo

01.08.2023oguidelinesoreadowitho01.09.2023onotification.oo 2025.05.06g13:46 o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 17o o o Re:oo Whether;o 07.11.2023o interimo ordero passedo byo thiso Courto grantingointerimoreliefotootheopetitioners,oeffluxoofosomeotimeo havingo passedo sinceo theno ando theo petitionerso beingo students;o causesoequityoinofavouroofotheopetitioners.oo

10.o o Theocruxoofothisoaspectoofotheomatter,oasoespousedoonobehalfoofo theopetitioners,oisothatotheyowereoaffordedointerimobenefitoofotheo01.08.2023o guidelinesoreadowitho01.09.2023onotificationo&osinceoconsiderableotimeohaso passedothereafter,otheosaidointerimoordero deservesotoobeomadeoabsoluteoino exerciseoofoequitableojurisdictionoofothisoCourt.oo o o Beforeo delvingo intoo thiso aspecto ofo theo mattero ito wouldo beo germaneotooreferohereinotooaojudgmentopassedobyothisoCourtoinotheocaseotitledo asoGurpreetoSinghovs.oGuruoRavidasAyurvedoUniversity,oVPOoKharkan,o Unao Road,o Districto Hoshiarpuro ando anothero :o Neutralo Citationo No.:?o o "ItoisoanoimmutableoandosacrosanctoobligationoofoaowritoCourtotoodispenseo justiceo ino accordanceo witho theo exaltedo principleso ofo goodo conscience,o justiceoandoequity.oHowever,otheoinvocationoofoequitableojurisdictionodoeso notoconferouponotheoCourtoanounfetteredoprerogativeotoorenderoordersoino completeodefianceooroinooblivionoofotheoestablishedotenetsoofotheolawoofotheo land.o Theo administrationo ofo equityo musto operateo withino theo definedo contoursoofojurisprudenceoandocannototransgressointootheorealmoofojudicialo adventurism,owherebyoreliefs,oalienotootheofundamentalopreceptsoofolaw,oareo grantedo withouto legalo substratum.o Equity,o ino itso trueo essence,o doeso noto entailo bestowingo thato whicho theo lawo doeso noto contemplate,o noro doeso ito envisageotheoconfermentoofobenefitsothatostandoinostarkocontradictionotoo statutoryomandates.oTheowritoCourt,owhilstoexercisingoitsoplenaryopowerso inequity,oisovestedowithotheoauthorityotoobridgeotheolacunaeothatomayoexisto withino theo rigido frameworko ofo statutoryo provisions.o However,o sucho ao courseoofoactionomustobeoundertakenowithodueoreverenceotootheooverarchingo legaloorder,olestoitoresultsoinojudicialoencroachmentothatosupplantoit;ooroito tampersotheorigoursoofolegaloformalismowithoutoevisceratingotheostatutoryoAJAYgKUMAR 2025.05.06g13:46 Igattestgtogthegaccuracygand fabricouponowhichotheoadministrationoofojusticeofirmlyorests.oTheoequitableo o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 18o o o jurisdictionoofoaowritoCourtomustobeoexercisedo withojudiciousorestraint,o ensuringo thato itso decisionso doo noto traverseo beyondo theo permissibleo precinctso ofo legalo propriety.o Theo maximo Aequitaso Sequituro Legemo ––o equityofollowsotheolawo––encapsulatesotheofundamentalodoctrine,onamely,o thatoanoequitableoreliefomustobeoharmonizedowithostatutoryoprovisions,onoto grantedoinoderogationothereof.oWhileoitoisowithinotheowritoCourt'soremitotoo remedyo injusticeo whereo theo lawo iso silento oro deficient,o sucho remedialo measuresomustonotometamorphiseointoojudicialolegislationowhichoimpingeso uponotheoextantorules.oTheoCourt,oinoitsoequitableojurisdictionoservesoasotheo guardianoofojustice,oyetoitomustoremainoeverovigilantoagainstotheoperilsoofo judicialooverreach,owhereinodiscretionaryopowersoareowieldedoinoaomannero thatoproscribesolegalomandates."o o

10.1.o o Indubitably,o theo interimo benefito ofo theo 01.08.2023o guidelineso ando01.09.2023onotificationowasograntedotootheopetitionersovideoorderodatedo

07.11.2023oearlieropassedobyothisoCourtoandotheojudgmentowasoreservedoinotheo writopetitionoinohandoono24.04.2025,owhichotimeolineodoesoreflectothatothereoiso someoeffluxoofotimeosinceotheopetitionersowereoextendedotheointerimobenefito byothisoCourt.ooHowever,oitocannotobeolostosightoofothatotheopetitionersoareo aspiringo too beo doctorso whoo areo requiredo too beo professionalso witho astuteo knowledgeoofomedicaloscience(s)oandomanyoancillaryoskillsoofoakinonature.oIto iso ao mattero ofo profoundo publico interesto thato theo highesto nayo exceptionalo standardso ofo qualificationo oughto too beo scrupulouslyo maintainedo ino professionalocoursesosuchoasoMBBS,owhichooccupyoanoexaltedopositionoeveno withinotheodomainoofomedicaloeducation.ooTheonatureoofotheseodisciplines,o includingoMBBS,oessentiallyodealodirectlyowithopreciousohumanolifeoandoit,o hence,o necessitateso thato onlyo thoseo ofo proveno merito ando competenceo areo permittedoentry.oWhenotheocompetentoexaminingoauthority,oactingounderotheo mandateo ofo law,o prescribeso minimumo eligibilityo criteriao oro standardso ofo 2025.05.06g13:46 qualification,osuchoprescriptionsomustobeoregardedowithotheoutmostosanctity.oIto o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 19o o o isoneitheroappropriateonoropermissibleoforoaowritocourt,ohoweveronobleoitso intentions,o too diluteo oro circumvento theseo standards.o Theo conditionso soo prescribedoareotheooutcomeoofodeliberateoandoexpertoconsiderations,otailoredo tooensureothatoentrantsopossessotheonecessaryointellectualoacumen,oacademico proficiency,oandoprofessionaloaptitudeotooupholdotheorigoursoofotheomedicalo profession.o Theo authorityo taskedo witho conductingo sucho examinationso ando overseeingoadmissionsoisobestoplacedotoojudgeotheoqualificationsorequired,o whicho alsoo beingo endowedo witho theo requisiteo expertiseo ando statutoryo responsibility.oTheoeligibilityonormsoframedobyosuchoauthoritiesoareoneithero arbitraryonorowhimsical;orather,otheyoareoanchoredoinotheolargeroobjectiveoofo preservingotheosanctity,ointegrity,oandoexcellenceoofoprofessionaloeducationo and,otime-testedoasowelloasoalignedowithoreal-timeoneedso&orequirementsoofo largeropublicointerest.oThus,otheowritoCourtooughtotooexerciseorestraintoando abstainofromosubstitutingotheiroownonotionsoofofairnessoinolieuoofotheowisdomo embeddedoinosuchoprescriptions.oTheoroleoofotheowritoCourtoisoindeedotooacto equitablyo ando too advanceo theo causeo ofo justice.o Yet,o equityo musto operateo within,oandonotooutside,otheoframeworkoofolaw.oWhileotheowritoCourtoisotheo custodianoofojustice,oitomustonot,ounderotheoguiseoofoequitableorelief,ousurpotheo functionoentrustedotooexpertobodiesoororenderotheostatutoryoschemeonugatory.o Judicialo intervention,o ifo any,o musto beo reservedo foro instanceso ofo manifesto arbitrarinessooroegregiousoviolationoofoconstitutionalorightso-onotofororevisitingo orosofteningoeligibilityostandardsorootedoinoreasonoandonecessity.oItomustobeo underscoredo thato publico interesto faro outweighso individualo hardships,o ino mattersoconcerningoprofessionaloqualifications.oSympathy,ohoweveronatural,o 2025.05.06g13:46 mustonotoobscureotheolargeroimperativeoofomaintainingocompetenceowithino o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 20o o o fieldsowhereopublicotrustoandolivesoareoatostake.oTooallowootherwiseowouldobeo too compromiseo noto merelyo individualo standardso buto theo veryo edificeo ofo professionaloexcellence.oThus,otheojudicialoconscienceomust,oinosuchomatters,o beotemperedowithoaodeeporespectoforostatutoryointentoandotheogreaterogood.o Theo writo Courto musto confineo itselfo too ensuringo thato theo prescribedo qualificationsoareoappliedofairlyoandouniformly;onototoocarvingooutoexceptions,o basedo ono misplacedo notionso ofo equity.o Ino conclusion,o whileo writo courtso possessoaowideoandopotentojurisdiction,otheiroexerciseomustobeoharmoniouso withotheostatutoryoframework,oparticularlyoinofieldsowhereotechnicaloexpertiseo ando publico welfareo converge.o Judicialo interferenceo witho prescribedo qualificationso shouldo remaino ano exception,o noto theo rule,o lesto theo courto inadvertentlyoerodesotheoveryostandardsoitoisoduty-boundotoouphold.o o o TheopristineowordsoofoBenjaminoN.oCardozo,owhichometowitho approvalofromotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt,oreadothus:o o "Theojudge,oevenowhenoheoisofree,oisostillonotowhollyofree.ooHeoisonototoo innovateoatopleasure.ooHeoisonotoaoknight-errantoroamingoatowilloinopursuito ofohisoownoidealoofobeautyooroofogoodness.ooHeoisotoodrawohisoinspirationo fromoconsecratedoprinciples.ooHeoisonototooyieldotoospasmodicosentiment,otoo vagueo ando unregulatedo benevolence.o o Heo iso too exerciseo ao discretiono informedobyotradition,omethodizedobyoanalogy,odisciplinedobyosystem,oando subordinatedotootheoprimordialonecessityoofoorderoinotheosocialolife.ooWideo enoughoinoalloconscienceoisotheofieldoofodiscretionothatoremains"o o o Ergo,o thiso Courto findso itselfo unableo too exerciseo itso equitableo jurisdictionoinofavouroofotheopetitioners.ooo Re:ooo WhetherotheodictaoofoDivisionoBenchojudgmentsoofotheoHon'bleo Madraso Higho Courto ando theo Hon'bleo Keralao Higho Court,o holdingothato01.09.2023onotificationohasoretrospectiveoeffect,oiso AJAYgKUMAR bindingoprecedentouponothisoCourt.oo 2025.05.06g13:46 o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 21o o o

11.o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionersohasovociferouslyoreliedoupono theodictaoofotheojudgmentsopassedobyotheoHon'bleoDivisionoBench(s)oofotheo Hon'bleoMadrasoHighoCourtoandoHon'bleoKeralaoHighoCourtotooargueothato theo issueo ofo 01.09.2023o notificationo beingo retrospectiveo ino natureo iso conclusivelyodecidedothereinoinofavouroofotheopetitioners.oo

11.1.o o Beforeo delvingo intoo thiso aspecto ofo theo matter,o ito wouldo beo appositeotooreferohereinotoorelevantocase-law,oviz:o

(i)o o AothreeoJudgeoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtoinotheocaseo titledo aso Valliamao Champakao Pillaio vs.o Sivathanuo Pillaio ando others,o 1979(4)oSCCo429,ohasoheldoasounder:o o "18.o xxxxxxxxxxxx.ooTheopointosoughtotoobeomadeooutoisothatotheoMadraso Higho Courto waso legallyo boundo too applyo theo Travancoreo Limitationo RegulationoasointerpretedobyotheoTravancoreoHighoCourt,oinopreferenceotoo theoearlierodecisionsoofotheoMadrasoHighoCourt.oItoisourgedothatoevenoono theodoctrineoofostareodecisis,otheolearnedoJudgesoofotheoHighoCourtooughtotoo haveoadheredotootheoviewotakenobyotheoTravancoreoCourtoinotheosaidocases.o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o o xxxo o 21.o TheseoerroneousodecisionsoofotheoTravancoreoCourtocould,oatobest,o haveoaopersuasiveoeffectoandonototheoforceoofobindingoprecedentsoonotheo Madraso Higho Court.o Thereo iso nothingo ino theoStateso Reorganisationo Acto1956ooroanyootherolawowhichoexaltsotheoratiooofothoseodecisionsotootheo statusoofoaobindingolaw,onorocouldotheoratioodecidendioofothoseodecisionsobeo perpetuatedobyoinvokingotheodoctrineoofostareodecisis."o

(ii)o o Further,oaoDivisionoBenchoofotheoHon'bleoBombayoHighoCourto inoaocaseoofoCommissioneroofoIncomeoTaxovs.oThanaoElectricityoSupplyoLtd.o 1993oSCCoOnlineoBomo591,ohasoheldothat:o o "12.o ItoisoequallyowellosettledothatotheodecisionoofooneoHighoCourtoisonoto ao bindingo precedento ono anothero Higho Court.o Theo Supremeo Courto inoValliamao Champakao Pillaio v.o Sivathanuo Pillai,o AIRo 1979o SupremeoAJAYgKUMAR 2025.05.06g13:46 Igattestgtogthegaccuracygand Courto 1937,o dealingo witho theo controversyo whethero ao decisiono ofo theo o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 22o o o erstwhileoTravancoreoHighoCourtocanobeomadeoaobindingoprecedentoonotheo MadrasoHighoCourtoonotheobasisoofotheoprincipleoofostareodecisis,oclearlyo heldothatosuchoaodecisionocanoatobestohaveopersuasiveoeffectoandonototheo forceoofobindingoprecedentoonotheoMadrasoHighoCourt.oReferringotootheo StatesoReorganisationoAct,oitowasoobservedothatothereowasonothingoinotheo saidoActooroanyootherolawowhichoexaltsotheoratiooofothoseodecisionsotootheo statusoofoaobindingolawonorocouldotheoratioodecidendioofothoseodecisionsobeo perpetuatedobyoinvokingotheodoctrineoofostareodecisis.oTheodoctrineoofostareo decisisocannotobeostretchedothatofaroasotoomakeotheodecisionoofooneoHigho Courtoaobindingoprecedentoforotheoother.oThisodoctrineoisoapplicableoonlyotoo differentoBenchesoofotheosameoHighoCourt.o

(iii)o o Ao Divisiono Bencho ofo theo Hon'bleo Bombayo Higho Courto ino ao judgmentotitledoasoDharmendraoM.oJaniovs.oUnionoofoIndiao&oOrs.oinoWrito PetitionoNo.2031oofo2018odecidedoono16.06.2021,ohasoheldoasounder:o o "59.oo ItoisoaosettledolegalopropositionothatodecisionoofooneoHighoCourtoiso notobindingoonoanotheroHighoCourtothoughoitodeservesodueoconsiderationo andocertainlyohasoaohighopersuasiveovalue.oThisopositionohasobeenoclarifiedo byotheoSupremeoCourtoinoValliammaoChampakaoPillaioVs.oSivathanuoPillai,o

(1980)o1oSCRo354oandobyothisoCourtoinoCIToVs.oThaneoElectricityoSupplyo Limited,o (1994)o 206o ITRo 727.oInoValliammao Champakao Pillaio(supra),o Supremeo Courto declaredo thato theo erroneouso decisionso renderedo byo theo erstwhileo Travancoreo Higho Courto couldo noto beo madeo bindingo ono theo MadrasoHighoCourt.oSuchodecisionsocouldoatobestohaveoaopersuasiveoeffect.o ThereoisonothingoinotheoStatesoRe-organisationoAct,o1956ooroanyootherolawo whichoexaltsotheoratiooofothoseodecisionsotootheostatusoofoaobindingolawonoro couldotheoratioodecidendioofothoseodecisionsobeoperpetuatedobyoinvokingotheo doctrineo ofo stareo decisis.oExpandingo ono this,o thiso Courto inoThaneo ElectricityoSupplyoLimitedo(supra)oheldothatotheodecisionoofooneoHighoCourto isoneitheroaobindingoprecedentoforoanotheroHighoCourtonoroforocourtsooro tribunalsooutsideoitsoownoterritorialojurisdiction.oItoisowellosettledothatotheo decisionoofoaoHighoCourtowillohaveotheoforceoofobindingoprecedentoonlyoino theostatesooroterritoriesooverowhichotheoCourtohasojurisdiction.oInoothero statesoorooutsideotheoterritorialojurisdictionoofothatoHighoCourtoitomayoato besto haveo onlyo persuasiveo effect.o Byo noo amounto ofo stretchingo ofo theo doctrineoofostareodecisis,ocanojudgmentsoofooneoHighoCourtobeogivenotheo 2025.05.06g13:46 statuso ofo ao bindingo precedento soo faro othero Higho Courtso oro courtso oro o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 23o o o tribunalso outsideo theo territorialo jurisdictiono ofo thato Higho Courto areo concerned."o o o Theo doctrineo ofo Stareo Decisis,o moreo commonlyo knowno aso doctrineoofobindingoprecedents,ooriginatesofromotheomaximo"StareoDecisisoeto nonoquietaomovere",otranslationowhereoforeadso––o"toostandobyoprecedentoando noto too disturbo whato iso settled".o Ito embodieso theo desideratumo thato judicialo decision,o onceo rendered,o oughto too beo adheredo too ino subsequento caseso involvingosimilaroquestionsoofolaw,otherebyofosteringoconsistency,ocertaintyo andopredictabilityoinotheoadministrationoofojustice.oThisodoctrineoreflectsotheo legalo axiomo thato theo Courtso shouldo noto exerciseo theiro jurisdictiono ino anyo randomomanneroforothisowouldospeedilyolandoeverythingoino"confusionoworseo confused".ooOfonecessityothereomustobeocertainofixedoland-marksoapproachingo correctness,othoughonotoinfalliblyoperfect;oandotheoCourtsoshouldobeoguidedo byotheseoevenothoughoaorigorousoadherenceotoothemomightoatotimesoworko individualo hardship.o o Theseo land-markso are,o ofo course,o prioro decisionso servingoasoprecedentsonotolightlyotoobeochanged.ooErgo,othisodoctrineohasotheo meritoofo promotingoao certaintyo ando consistencyo ino judicialodecisions,o ando enablesoanoorganicodevelopmentoofotheolaw,obesidesoprovidingoassuranceotoo theoindividual,oasotootheoconsequenceoofotransactions,oformingopartoofohiso dailyo affairs.o o However,o thiso salutaryo doctrine,o whileo deeplyo entrenchedo withino theo jurisprudentialo framework,o operateso withino ao hierarchicalo structure.o Ito iso withino thiso structuralo contexto thato theo nuancedo positiono concerningotheointer-relationshipobetweenodecisionsoofoHighoCourtsoacrosso variousojurisdictionsomustobeounderstood.o 2025.05.06g13:46 o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 24o o o o o Theo ratioo decidendio ofo theo aboveo demiurgico case-lawo indubitablyoreflectsothatotheodecisionoofooneoHighoCourtoisonotoaobindingo precedentoforoanotheroHighoCourt.oTheodoctrineoofoStareoDecisisodoesonoto imploreotheojudgmentsoofooneoHighoCourtotoobeoofobindingoprecedentoinsofaro aso othero Higho Courtso areo concerned.o Ino othero words,o byo noo quantumo ofo stretchingoofotheodoctrineoofostareodecisis,ocanojudgmentsoofooneoHighoCourto beogivenotheostatusoofoaobindingoprecedentoinsofaroasootheroHighoCourtsoareo concerned.ooAnyosuchoattemptowillogoocounterotootheoveryodoctrineoofostareo decisisoandoalsootheodictaolaidodownobyotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourt,owhicho hasointerpretedotheoscopeoandoambitothereof.ooTheofactothatothereoisoonlyooneo decisionoofoanyoHighoCourtoonoaoparticularopointoorothatonumberoofodifferento HighoCourtsohaveotakenoidenticaloviewsoinothatoregardoisonotoatoallorelevantoforo thatopurpose.ooWhateveromayobeotheoconclusion,otheodecisionsocannotohaveo theoforceoofobindingoprecedentoonootheroHighoCourts.ooSuchodemiurgicostatuso isoreservedoonlyoforotheodecisionsoofotheoHon'bleoSupremeoCourtowhichoareo bindingo ono allo Courtso ino theo countryo byo virtueo ofo Articleo 141o ofo theo Constitution.ooTheodistinctionoarisesofromotheofederalocharacteroofotheoIndiano judiciary,o whereo eacho Higho Courto exerciseso jurisdictiono overo ao definedo territorialo regiono ando iso ao Courto ofo Recordo undero Articleo 215o ofo theo Constitution.o Theo rationaleo underpinningo theo non-bindingo natureo ofo Higho Courtodecisionsointeroseoliesoinotheoveryoarchitectureoofojudicialofederalism.o EachoHighoCourtoisocompetentotoointerpretoandoapplyotheolawowithinoitsoowno territorialolimits,oandoinodoingoso,oitomayoadoptoaoviewodistinctofromothatoofo anotheroHighoCourt.oWhileoaopronouncementofromoaoHighocourt,oparticularlyo 2025.05.06g13:46 oneorenderedoafterodetailedoanalysisoandoreasonedoexposition,omayocommondo o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 25o o o highopersuasiveoauthority,oitodoesonotooperateoasoaoprecedentoinotheobindingo senseoforootheroHighoCourts.oAtotheosameotime,oitocannotobeolostosightoofothato lawowillobeobereftoofoalloitsoutilityoifoitooughtotoobeothrownointootheostateoofo uncertaintyoonoaccountoofoconflictingostalematesoand,otherefore,oitoisoessentialo thatoaoHighoCourtowhileodeferringowithoaoviewotakenobyootheroHighoCourt(s)o oughtotoorecordoitsodissentowithoreasonsotherefor.ooInootherowords,oaojudgmento ofootheroHighoCourt(s)ooughtotoobeotakenonoteoofoandodissentedowithoonlyo upono recordingo reasons,o includingo reasonso foronoto adheringotoopersuasiveo valueoofojudgmentoofoanotheroHighoCourt(s).oo

12.o o Advertingo too theo presento matter,o ito iso noticeableo thato learnedo counselo foro theo petitionerso haso placedo relianceo upono theo judgmento datedo

28.02.2025orenderedobyotheoDivisionobenchoofotheoHon'bleoHighoCourtoofo KeralaopassedoinoWA-403-2025otitledoasoNationaloMedicaloCommissionoVs.o AntonyoP.oAlappatoandoOthers;o2025:KER:22334.o(hereinafteroreferredotooaso 'judgmentodatedo28.02.2025').oo o o Whileotheopronouncementoundoubtedlyocommandsogreatorespecto andoconsiderationoatoouroend;oweoyet,oafteroaocircumspectoandothoughtfulo consideration,oareounableotoopersuadeoourselvesotoosubscribeotootheoreasoningo andoconclusionsoarrivedoatobyotheoHon'bleoKeralaoHighoCourt.ooThus,oweoareo constrained,owithohumility,otootakeoaodifferentoviewoforotheoreasons,onamely:o o o FIRSTLY,o ito iso pertinento too noteo thato theo 03.10.2023o publico noticeodoesonotoappearotoohaveobeenoadvertedotoobyotheoHon'bleoKeralaoHigho Courto whileo renderingo theo judgmento datedo 28.02.2025.o Theo 03.10.2023o publico noticeo unequivocallyo articulateso theo intentiono ofo theo promulgatingo 2025.05.06g13:46 authorityo (NMC)o too applyo theo 01.09.2023o notificationo prospectively.o Ito o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 26o o o appears,othatotheo03.10.2023opubliconoticeomayonotohaveobeenobroughtotootheo attentionoofotheoHon'bleoKeralaoHighoCourt,owhich,ohadoitobeenoconsidered,o mightohaveoresultedoinoanotheroview.oo o o SECONDLY,otheojudgmentodatedo28.02.2025ohasonototakenointoo accountothatotheocourseounderoconsiderationopertainsotootheofieldoofoMedicine,o namelyo theo MBBSo programmeo which,o byo itso veryo nature,o iso ao highlyo specialisedoandoprofessionalodiscipline.oInosuchoaosensitiveodomain,ohighero qualificationo standardso areo mandatedo noto merelyo too serveo individualo aspirationsobutotoosafeguardotheobroaderopublicointerest.oItoisoaosettledocanono thatoCourtsooughtotooexerciseoutmostocircumspectionobeforeointerveningoino mattersoofoacademicostandardsosetobyoaostatutoryoauthorityosuchoasotheoNMC,o particularlyo wheno thoseo standardso areo rootedo ino considerationso ofo publico welfareo ando safety.o Individualo hardships,o howevero sympathetic,o cannoto outweigho theo collectiveo goodo necessitatingo rigorouso professionalo benchmarks.o o o THIRDLY,o theo judgmento datedo 28.02.2025o appearso too haveo proceededo ono theo premiseo thato theo 01.09.2023o notificationo waso merelyo clarificatory,otherebyoaffordingoitoretrospectiveooperation.oHowever,oaoplaino andoharmoniousoconstructionoofotheolanguageoemployedothereinorevealsonoo sucho intento too merelyo elucidateo oro clarifyo existingo ambiguities.o Ono theo contrary,o theo 01.09.2023o notificationo manifestso promulgationo ofo ano altogetheroneworegulatoryoframework,ointroducingosubstantiveochangesorathero thanomerelyoexplicatingopreviousoprovisionsoasopropoundedovideo01.08.2023o guidelines.oInosuchocircumstances,oandomoreosooparticularlyoinolightoofotheo 2025.05.06g13:46 expressodeclarationocontainedo inotheo03.10.2023opublico noticeo prescribingo o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 27o o o prospectiveo application,o theo 01.09.2023o notificationo cannot,o byo anyo establishedocanonoofostatutoryointerpretation,obeotreatedoasoclarificatoryosooaso toowarrantoretrospectiveooperation.oo

13.o o Further,o theo learnedo counselo foro theo petitionerso haso placedo relianceouponotheojudgmentodatedo23.01.2025orenderedobyotheodivisionobencho ofotheoHon'bleoHighoCourtoofoMadrasopassedoinoWA-333-2024otitledoasoTheo Controllero ofo Examinations,o Pondicherryo University,o Pondicherryo Vs.o MeghaoMariaoJoeoandoothers,(hereinafteroreferredotooaso'judgmentodatedo

23.01.2025').oo o o WithotheohighestorespectoandoprofoundodeferenceotootheoHon'bleo HighoCourtoofoMadras,oitomustobeoobservedothat,oapartofromotheomatterobeingo factuallyodistinguishableofromotheoinstantocase,owe,ouponoaocircumspectoando anxiouso consideration,o areo unableo too concuro witho theo viewo enunciatedo ino paragrapho15oofotheojudgmentodatedo23.01.2025,owhereinoitohasobeenoheldo thatotheorulesoembodiedoinotheo01.08.2023oguidelinesowouldobeoapplicableotoo thoseostudentsoalsoowhoseoresultsohadonotobeenodeclaredobyotheosaidodate.oo o o InotheofactualomilieuobeforeotheoHon'bleoHighoCourtoofoMadras,o itoisopertinentotoonoteothatotheoexaminationoprocessowasostilloongoing,oasotheo practicalocomponentoofotheoexaminationohadobeenoconductedosubsequentotoo

01.08.2023o―otheodateoonowhichotheo01.08.2023oguidelinesocameointooforce.o Itowasoinotheseocircumstancesothatotheobenefitoofotheo01.08.2023oguidelineso wasoextendedotootheostudentsotherein.oInocontradistinction,oinotheopresentocaseo undero consideration,o theo entireo processo ofo examinationo hado alreadyo culminated,oandotheofinaloresultsowereodulyodeclaredoono18.08.2023,owhicho 2025.05.06g13:46 waso prioro too theo issuanceo ando comingo intoo effecto ofo theo 01.09.2023o o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 28o o o notification.oConsequently,oanyoendeavourotooaccordoretrospectiveooperationo tootheo01.09.2023onotificationoinotheofactsoofotheoinstantocaseowould,oinoeffect,o amountotooaorevisionooroalterationooforesultsoalreadyodeclaredo―oaopropositiono thatofindsonoosanctionoinolawoandoisoanathemaotootheosettledolegaloprinciples.o Suchoaocourseowouldooffendotheofinalityooforesultsoandointroduceouncertaintyo intoo theo domaino ofo academico evaluation,o ao resulto thato theo law,o witho itso paramountoconcernoforocertaintyoandostability,ocannotocountenance.oo o o AdvertingotootheoobservationomadeobyotheoHon'bleoHighoCourto ofo Madraso ino paragrapho 15o ofo judgmento datedo 23.01.2025,o theo pertinento excerptoofowhichoisoasofollows:oo o "15.o……..Toostateowithomoreoclarity,otheoneworegulationsowouldoapplyotoo theostudents,owhoseoresultsohaveonotobeenopublishedobyo01.08.2023."oo o o Witho theo utmosto respecto ando reverenceo foro theo esteemedo judgmentodatedo23.01.2025orenderedobyotheoHon'bleoMadrasoHighoCourt,oito appearsotoous,owithohumility,othatosuchoanointerpretationoextendsotheooperationo ofotheo01.08.2023oguidelinesobeyondoitsonaturaloandointendedotemporalolimits,o therebyoimpartingotooitoaoretrospectiveocharacter,owhichoisoneitheroexpresslyo providedoforonorocanobeoinferredobyonecessaryoimplicationofromoitsolanguage.o Aso pero theo settledo canonso ofo statutoryo construction,o ao provisiono affectingo substantiveo rightso must,o ino theo absenceo ofo clearo legislativeo intento too theo contrary,o beo construedo too operateo prospectively.o Theo languageo ofo theo

01.08.2023o guidelines,o upono ao plaino ando grammaticalo reading,o doeso noto evinceoanyosuchoretrospectiveoapplication.oo Decision:o 2025.05.06g13:46 o o CWP-24261-2023oandootheroconnectedocaseso o o o 29o o o

14.o o Inoviewoofotheoprevenientoratiocination,otheoinstantobatchoofocivilo writopetitionsoisodismissed.oPendingoapplication(s),oifoany,oshalloalsoostando disposedoofoaccordingly.oThereoshallobeonooorderoasotoocosts.ooooo o o o o o o o o o o (SUMEEToGOEL)o o o o o (SHEELoNAGU)o o JUDGEo o o o o o CHIEFoJUSTICEo o o o o o o o o o Mayo06,o2025o Ajayo o o o o Whetherospeaking/reasoned:o o Yes/Noo o o Whetheroreportable:o o o Yes/Noo 2025.05.06g13:46