Amit Kumar v. Director Pgimer and Others

INoTHEoHIGHoCOURToOFoPUNJABoANDoHARYANA AToCHANDIGARH LPA-1854-2023o(O&M) Reservedoono:11.08.2025 ooooooooooooPronouncedoon:o04.09.2025 Dr.oAmitoKumaro .....oAppellant Vs Director,oPostoGraduateoInstitutionoofoMedicaloEducationoandoResearchoando Others .....oRespondents CORAM:ooHON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoASHWANIoKUMARoMISHRA HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoROHIToKAPOOR Presento: Mr.oSureshoKumaroJindal,oAdvocate,o forotheoappellant.o Mr.oAmitoJhanjhi,oSenioroAdvocate,oassistedobyo Mr.oHakikatoGrewal,oAdvocate,o forotheorespondents.o ***** oROHIToKAPOORoo,oJo.o

¶1Theopresentoappealohasobeenofiledoagainstotheojudgmentoand orderodatedo20.10.2023,opassedobyotheolearnedoSingleoJudge,owhereby,oCWP-19691-2020ofiledobyotheoappellantohasobeenodismissed.oTheoappellant-petitionero ino theo saido writo petition, ohad o prayed o foro directions o to o the respondentoinstitute,oi.e.ooPostoGraduateoInstituteoofoMedicaloEductionoand Researcho(PGIMER),otooallowohimotoojoinoasojuniororesident,otoocontinueoand completeohisoMDoinotheodepartmentoofoInternaloMedicine,owithoaofurther prayerotooquasholettersodatedo27.08.2019o(AnnnexureoP-9),o29.10.2019 (AnnexureoP-10),o14.02.2020o(AnnexureoP-11)oando02.11.2020o(AnnexureoP-15),owhereby,oheohasonotobeenoallowedotoojoinoandocompleteohisocourseoand insteadoaopenaltyoofoRs.5,00,000/-ohasobeenodemanded.oPrayerowasoalsoomade forograntoofodamages.o I. FACTUALoMATRIX:

2.ooooooooTheoAppellantojoinedotheorespondent-institute,oi.e.,oPostoGraduate InstituteoofoMedicaloEducationoandoResearcho(PGIMER),oChandigarhoon

06.01.2018oasoaojuniororesidentoinotheodepartmentoofoInternaloMedicine,oinothe batchoofoJanuary,o2018o-oDecember,o2020.oAsoperotheoappellant,ohisooriginal academicocertificatesowereotakenobyotheoinstituteoatotheotimeoofojoiningoand areostillowithoit.oItoisotheocaseoofotheoAppellantothatoafteroundergoingothe courseoforoaboutooneoyear,oheodevelopedosomeomedicaloproblemsoandohadoto undergoootreatmentoforotheosame,oforowhichothereowasoaobriefoabsenceoandohe wroteotootheorespondent-instituteoforograntoofoleaveofromo02.01.2019oto

19.02.2019,oalongwithomedicalocertificates.oAfterohavingorecovered,oheowent tootheoInstituteoinoFebruary,o2019ofororesumingohisoservices,ohowever,oheowas toldoothatoheocouldojoinoonlyoafterobeingodeclaredofitobyotheoMedicaloBoard. TheoMedicaloBoardowasoconstitutedovideoorderodatedo14.03.2019oandovide letterodatedo14.06.2019,oheowasoinformedothatoheohasobeenofoundofitoandowas askedotoojoinotheoDepartmentobyo19.06.2019.oAsotheomarriageoofothe appellantowasoscheduledotootakeoplaceoono08.07.2019,oaccordingly,ovide emailodatedo19.06.2019oitself,oheorequestedoforoextensionoofoleaveoupto

19.07.2019,owhichowasoextended,ovideoletterodatedo18.07.2019o(AnnexureoP-6).

¶3AsoperotheoAppellant,odueotooheavyofloodsoinohisonativeoplaceoat Bihar, o he o could o not o join o the o respondent-institute o on o 19.07.2019 o and accordingly,oheoinformedotheoinstituteovideoemailodatedo19.07.2019oto considerotheoextensionoofohisoleaveoforofiveodaysowithoaorequestothatoheowould joinoono24.07.2019oandoinotheoeventoheofailedotoodooso,oitomayostart proceedingsoagainstohim,oasoperoitsorules.oTheorequestoforograntoofoextension ofoleaveofromo19.02.2019otoo23.07.2019,odidonotoillicitoanyoresponse.oOn

24.07.2019.owhenoheowentoforojoiningotheoinstituteoandohandedooverohis joiningoletter,oalthoughotheoinstituteokeptotheojoiningoletter,obutoheowasonot allowedotoojoin,odespiteowaitingoforotheowholeoday.oItoisoclaimedobyothe appellantothatodespiteorepeatedorequestsotooeveryoconcernedoofficial,oheowas notopermittedotoojoinoandoratherooheowasopressurizedotooresign.oOwingotoothe harassment,oheobecameoseverelyodepressedoandodevelopedosuicidalothoughts and o it o was o under o such o circumstances, o he o unwillingly o submitted o his resignationoletterodatedo31.07.2019o(AnnexureoP-8).o

¶4Fromotheodocumentsoavailableoonorecord,oitoisoclearothatovide letterodatedo27.08.2019o(AnnexureoP-9),owhileoreferringotooletterodated

31.07.2019owherebyoresignationowasosubmittedoandorequestoforowaiveroof BondoPenaltyowasomadeobyotheoAppellant,otheorespondent-instituteoinformed the o appellant o that o the o competent o authority o has o agreed o to o accept o his resignationoinoprincipleoasoperorule.oItowasofurtherostatedothatosinceoheohad resignedoafterooneoyearoandowithinotwooyearsoofohisojoining,oasosuch,oheois liableotoopayopenaltyoofoRs.5,00,000/-oasoperorules.oTheoappellantoclaimsothat heoreceivedovariousolettersocallingouponohimotoodepositoRs.o5,00,000/-,owhile heowasorequestingotheoinstituteotooallowohimotoojoinoandocompleteohisoMD course.oItoisotheofurtheroclaimoofotheoappellantothatofromoMarch,o2020 onwards,oonoaccountoofolockdownodueotooCovid-19,oheowasoforcedotoostayoat hisohometown,oi.e.,oHazaribagh,oJharkhand.oItoisosubmittedothatosinceohis resignationohasonotobeenoaccepted,oheoagainowentotootheoinstituteoand requestedoforopermittingohimotoojoinoono12.10.2020,ohowever,oheowasoorally informed o that o he o cannot o be o permitted o to o do o so. o Further o instance o of communicationodatedo23.10.2020o(AnnexureoP-13)oshowingoAppellant's intentionotoocompleteotheocourseoandoexpressingohowoheowasocompelledoto resign,ofollowedobyoissuanceoofolegalonoticeodatedo26.10.2020o(AnnexureoP-14),oisomentionedoinotheopetition.oAsoperotheoappellant,otheorespondent-instituteovideoletterodatedo02.11.2020ocameooutowithoaonewofact,ostatingothat theoacceptanceoofohisoresignationowasoalreadyocommunicatedovideoletter datedo27.08.2019oandotheocertificatesowhichowereolyingowithotheoinstitute, wouldoonlyobeohandedooverotoohimoonohisodepositingotheopenaltyoamountoof Rs.5,00,000/-.oTheoAppellantoinohisowritopetitionoclaimedothatohisoresignation hadonotobeenoacceptedoandoheohadorepeatedlyobeenorequestingotoobeopermitted toocompleteohisocourse.ooItoisoinothisobackdrop,otheoappellantoapproachedothe writoCourtounderoArticleo226oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia,oprayingoforothe reliefsoasomentionedohere-in-above.o

¶5Inotheowrittenostatementofiledobyotheorespondent-institute,oitowas interoaliao pointedooutothatotheoappellant,ofromotheoveryobeginningoofothe course,ohasobeenoonoaoperpetualoleaveoandohasomoreoleavesotoohisoaccount thanoworkingodaysoandowasoreportedobyoalmostoallohisoseniors,owhereoheowas onoduty.oItowasostatedoinotheoreplyothatotheoappellantowasoaoconsistent absentee,owhootookosevenodaysoleaveovideoletterodatedo06.01.2018o(Annexure R-6),oinotheomonthoofoJanuary,o2018oandoagainosoughtoaoweek'soleaveofrom

09.04.2018otoo15.04.2018ovideoletterodatedo04.04.2018,ostatingothatoheowas feelingodepressedoandowasoalsooheadingotooWesternoRailwaysoHeadquarters atoMumbaiotoogetotheoextensionoofohisoleaveoforothreeoyears.oTheorespondent-instituteoextendedoallopossibleohelpoandovideolettersodatedo06.04.2018oand

01.05.2018osuggestedotoohisoparentsotootalkotoohimodirectlyoandotooencourage himoconstantly.oHowever,otheoattitudeoofotheoappellantoremainedocallousoand heodidonotoshowoupoonodutyoandoremainedoabsentofromo15.06.2018owithout prioropermission,oasoisoevidentofromoletterodatedo24.06.2018o(AnnexureoR-10).oNumerousocomplaintsowereomadeoinotheoletter,opointingooutospecific instances,oshowingoaohabitoofoskipping/shirkingowork,orudeobehaviouroetc. Thereafter,otheoappellantowasocontactedotelephonically,otooaskoaboutohis whereaboutsoandoinoresponse,oheoinformedothatoheodesiresotoojoinothe railways.oSubsequently,ovideoletterodatedo27.06.2018,o(AnnexureoR-11)ohe againosoughtotwoodays'otimeotoodecide,owhetheroheowantsotoocontinueoinothe courseooronot.ooHeowasocounselledoandoyetoagainograntedoanoopportunityoto decide.oo

¶6Afterojoiningoback,oonceoagainocomplaintsowereoreceivedoagainst himovideoletterodatedo13.08.2018o(AnnexureoR-12)oregardingonotofinishing hisodutyoandoleavingotheoworkplaceowithoutoprioropermission.oAnoexplanation wasosoughtothrougholetterodatedo21.08.2018.oHowever,onooresponseowas received.oSubsequently,oheoagainosoughtoleaveoono16/17.08.2018oandodidonot reportoback.oHeotelephonicallyoinformedothatoheowasosufferingofromoviral feveroandowilloreturnobackoatotheoendoofotheomonth.oTheoappellantoyetoagain didonotoshowoupoforodutyoono01.09.2018ocausingoimmenseodifficultyoin deliveringonecessaryomedicaloservicesotootheopublic.oHeowasoaskedotooprovide properomedicalocertificateoandointimateodatesoofoleave,ovideoletterodated

13.09.2018o(AnnexureoR-17).oTheoappellantoremainedoonomedicaloleaveofrom

19.08.2018 o to o 15.10.2018 o and o remained o absent o from o 16.10.2018 o to

23.12.2018.oHeosubmittedohisojoiningoreportow.e.f.o24.12.2018oandoworked tillo31.12.2018oandoyetoagainosoughtoleaveoono01.01.2019odueotoomedical reasons,owithoutomentioningodates/attachingomedicalocertificates.oHeowas repeatedlyoaskedovideolettersodatedo15.01.2019,o25.01.2019oando06.02.2019 (AnnexuresoR-18otooR-20)otooprovideomedicalocertificates.oHowever,ono responseowasoreceivedoandoitowasounderotheseocircumstances,otheoheadoof department,ovideoletterodatedo16.02.2019o(AnnexureoR-21),orequestedothe authoritiesoforoconstitutionoofomedicaloboardotooexamineotheoappellant,osince heoremainedoonoprolongedomedicaloleave,obesidesoremainingoabsentoforoa veryolongoduration.o

¶7Theoappellantothereafteroyetoagainorejoinedodutiesoforoonlyoone dayoono21.02.2019oandodidonotoreportobackosinceo22.02.2019.oHeoonceoagain submittedohisoresignationoono22.02.2019o(AnnexureoR-23)ocitingofrequent medical o illness o and o stress o and o sought o waiver o of o bond o amount. o On

28.02.2019,ovideoletteroofoevenodate,o(AnnexureoR-24),oheoagainostatedothat heowishesotoowithdrawohisoresignationoandosoughtopermissionotoopursueohis course.o

¶8Theoappellantoyetoagainoexpressedohisoinabilityotoocontinueovideoletter dated o01.03.2019 o (AnnexureR-25) o and o immediately o left o theo city o after submittingohisoapplicationoandojoinedotheoIndianoRailwaysoServiceowithout seekingoanyoapprovalofromotheorespondent-institute,o(AnnexureoR-26).oUpon requestsoofotheoappellant,oheowasoexaminedobyotheoMedicaloBoardoon

14.06.2019oandowasorequiredotoojoinotheodepartmentobyo19.06.2019,ofailing whichonecessaryoactionowillobeotaken.oTheoappellantovideohisoemailodated

19.06.2019,oexpressedohisoinabilityotoojoinohisodutiesobyoinformingothatohis marriageohasobeenofixedoforo08.07.2019oandoagainorequestedoleaveofrom

01.07.2019otoo18.07.2019.oOno18.07.2019,owhileograntingoextensionoofoleave, fromo19.06.2019otoo18.07.2019,oitowasobroughtotootheonoticeoofotheoappellant thatoheohadobeenograntedotooomucholeaveoandonoofurtheroextensionowouldobe grantedoasohisoservicesowereoneededoforopatientocareoinowideropublicointerest. Heowasodirectedotoojoinostrictlyobyo19.07.2019,ofailingowhichonecessary actionowillobeoinitiatedoasoperotheoundertakingosignedobyohimoatotheotimeoof joiningotheocourse.oHowever,obyowayoofoanoemailodatedo19.07.2019,othe appellant o again o sought o extension o till o 24.07.2019, o citing o 'unforeseen circumstances'.oItowasofoundothatotheoappellantohadotakenomoreothano200 leavesoandohadoonlyoworkedoforotwoodays,oi.e.o01.01.2019oando21.02.2019 andohadonotojoinedohisodutiesothereafter.oHeohadojoinedotheoIndianoRailways andowasoonlyomakingoexcusesotoofindooutoaowayotooavoidotheopaymentoof penaltyowhichoheowasolegallyoboundotoopay.oTheoappellantoagainotenderedoa resignationoono31.07.2019owithoaorequestoforowaiveroofotheopenaltyoamount, whichowasoacceptedovideoletterodatedo27.08.2019oandoheowasoaskedotoopayothe penaltyoamount,oasoperorules.o

¶9Thereafter,olettersowereowrittenotootheoappellantoandohisosurety for o payment o of o the o aforementioned o penalty o amount o of o Rs.5,00,000/-, however,onooactionowhatsoeverowasotakenothereuponoandoitoisoonlyoatoaomuch belatedostageothatotheoappellantoyetoagainosoughtopermissionotoorejoinothe courseovideoletterodatedo12.10.2020,owhich,oin-factoisoaomalaofideoattemptoto reviveoaobelatedoandotimeobarredocauseoofoaction.o

¶10NooreplicationowasofiledobyotheoPetitionerotoocontrovertothe *#c!u#%o#vermen!som#deoonotie,#%*oo*o!,eoRes$onden!s. II. FINDINGSoOFoTHEoLEARNEDoSINGLEoJUDGE:

¶116,eo%e#rnedo-n7%eo.ud7eo#*!erocons der n7o!,eo$%e#d n7soo*o!,e $#r! eso#ndo!,eo#r7umen!sor# sedoono!,e rotie,#%*'od sm ssedo!,eo$e! ! ono* %ed 01o!,eo#$$e%%#n!'o01o$#ss n7o#ode!# %edo#ndore#sonedoorder.oo6,eo* nd n7soo* !,eo%e#rnedo-n7%eo.ud7e'o no$#r#7r#$,so14o!oo1;oo*o!,eo/ud7men!od#!ed

20.10.2023'o#reoe>!r#c!edo#sounder:-

¶14A perusal of the afore-stated facts would clearly indicate that the petitioner had not completed his course. He claims that he had availed leave for his marriage and thereafter, he could not join on time on account of floods in his native place and thereafter, when he submitted his joining, he was not permitted to join. Petitioner further claims that he was depressed by the circumstances and accordingly, he tendered his resignation. On the other hand, learned senior counsel appearing for the respondent-Institute had referred to various Annexures, indicating that the petitioner had availed of 206 leaves and also that the resignation tendered by him has been accepted in principle. However, since the petitioner was leaving the course mid-way; accordingly, in terms of the prospectus and the agreement executed by the petitioner with respondent-Institute, he was liable to pay an amount of Rs.5,00,000/-.

¶15The issue with regard to the payment of penalty amount in terms of the agreement/prospectus and for that matter on the basis of a bond, is no more res integra as the same has been decided by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in AssociationoofoMedicaloSuperspecialityoAspirantsoandoResidents andoothersov.oUnionoofoIndiaoandootherso(2019)o oS!!o"0#$owherein it has been held that all doctors who have executed compulsory bonds shall be bound by the conditions contained therein. Relevant paras from the judgment are as under :- "35. The submission of Mr. Huzefa Ahmadi, learned Senior Counsel for the Appellants is that the conditions of the bond per se amount to 'forced labour' and thus are violative of Article 23 (1) of the Constitution. Mr. Dwivedi expostulated the said submission by referring to Article 23 (2) which confers power on the State to impose compulsory service for public purpose. Reliance was placed upon the SMRITI Constituent Assembly Debates by Mr. Dwivedi explaining LPA-1854-2023o(O&M) -:- the scope of compulsory employment for public purpose under Article 23 (2) of the Constitution of India. The Appellants who are required to work for a short period on a decent stipend cannot complain that they are made to perform 'forced labour', especially after the Appellants have taken an informed decision to avail the benefits of admission in government medical colleges and received subsidized education. By no means, the service rendered by the Appellants in Government hospitals would fall under the expression of 'forced labour'.

¶39The argument advanced on behalf of the Appellants that compulsory bonds placed a restraint on their profession and thus, would be contrary to section 27 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872. The High Court of Calcutta repelled this submission by holding that the compulsory bond does not amount to any restraint on the professional activity of the Appellants. The High Court observed that the Appellants are offered the job of Medical Officer in the State of West Bengal and that the covenant in the compulsory bond operates only during the period of such employment. Relying upon the dictum of Lord Morris in %ssoo&etroleu'o!o.o(td.ov.o)arper*so+ara,eo(Stourport) (td.$ that:- "if A made a contract under which he willingly agreed to serve B on reasonable terms for a few years and to give his whole working time to B, it would be surprising indeed, if it were sought to describe the contract as being in restraint of trade; in fact, such a contract would very likely be for the advancement of trade." The High Court concluded that a contract entered into by Appellants to serve the government for a few years under reasonable terms cannot be described as one in restraint of trade. We are in agreement with the findings recorded by the High Court of Calcutta. Therefore, we are of the considered opinion that the conditions of compulsory bonds for admission to postgraduate and super-Speciality courses in government medical colleges are not in violation of section 27 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872. SMRITI

¶40The upshot of the above discussion is that the Writ Petitions and the Appeals deserve to be dismissed. Consequently, all the Doctors who have executed compulsory bonds shall be bound by the conditions contained therein".

¶16In view of the afore-stated legal position and also considering the peculiar facts and circumstances of the instant case, even if it is to be taken that the resignation tendered by the petitioner has not been accepted, the fact remains that the petitioner did not complete his course inasmuch as, he had availed more than 200 leaves. I also agree with the submissions made byo Mr. Jhanji, learned senior counsel representing the Institute that the course for which the petitioner was admitted, was for the Session 2018-2020 and it is not possible to make the petitioner join at this stage to complete the said course. It also appears that the petitioner is working with the Indian Railways and by way of filing the instant writ petition, he is only seeking exemption from the payment of penalty amount of Rs.5,00,000/-. Once the petitioner himself has executed an agreement in terms of the prospectus with the respondent-Institute that he will not resign his/her appointment without completing the post graduate course to which he/she has been admitted by the Institute and those who leave the said course after joining, shall be liable to pay a penalty as per chart mentioned therein, accordingly the petitioner would be bound by the same. In this case, since the petitioner had not completed his course and took more than 200 leaves and further sought to leave the course after one year and within two years, accordingly, the petitioner would be liable to pay Rs.5,00,000/- to respondent-Institute, moreso when the petitioner has not disputed the terms of the agreement/bond and its applicability in any manner whatsoever. Moreso, it calls to reason that such like course i.e. M.D. (Internal Medicine) or similar other courses are vacancy based/seat based and the same is occupied (as by the petitioner in this case) after going through entire process of admission for a specified course. The withdrawal therefrom would entail blocking of the source/vacancy on which a suitable candidate is to acquire qualification. It is in these circumstances that such binding clauses are incorporated in the Agreement/bond to secure the institution and the government resources utilized therein as also to balance the interest of the candidate." III. CONTENTIONSoOFoTHEoPARTIES:

¶12Le#rnedocounse%o#$$e#r n7oonotie,#%*oo*o!,eo#$$e%%#n!o,#s arguedothatotheodecisionoofotheolearnedoSingleoJudgeosuffersofromotheoviceoof non-applicationoofomindotootheorelevantofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheocase. He o contends o that o the o absence o of o the o appellant o for o the o period o dated

02.01.2019otoo19.02.2019owasoonlyoonoaccountoofohisosufferingofromoviral hepatitis,owhichowasodulyoexplained,oandoaomedicalocertificateowasoprovided inosupportothereof.oHeohasofurtheroarguedothatoratheroitowasotheorespondent-instituteowhoodidonotoallowohimotoojoinoono20.02.2019oandoimposedothe conditionoofobeingodeclaredofitobyotheoMedicaloBoard,owhichocannotobe blamedouponohim.oHeohasofurtherosoughtotooexplainotheoabsenceoofothe appellantoandocontendsothatotheolearnedoSingleoJudgeohadocommittedoanoerror inocalculatingotheoleaveoperiodoofo206odays,owhichoisofactuallyoincorrect.oItois vehementlyoarguedothatotheoAppellantohasonotobeenoallowedotoorejoinothe courseoonlyoonoaccountoofoabsenceoofomereofiveodays,owhichoisoarbitraryoand unwarranted,oespeciallyowhenotimelyointimationohadobeenogivenovideoemail datedo19.07.2019o(AnnexureoP-7).oItoisourgedothatoonooneohand,otheoAppellant hasobeenodebarredofromojoiningoandocontinuingohisoM.D.ocourseoinointernal medicineoandoonotheootherohand,oheoisobeingoaskedotoodepositoRs.o5,00,000/- lacsoforoleavingotheocourseoinobetween.

¶13Itoisofurtherocontendedothatoitowasoonlyoonoaccountoofotheoharassment metedooutotootheoappellantothatoheosubmittedotheoletterodatedo31.07.2019, whereby, o it o is o explicitly o mentioned o that o the o act o and o conduct o of o the respondent-instituteohadoledotoocauseodepressionotootheoappellant,owhooeven contemplatedocommittingosuicide.o

¶14Itoisolastlyoarguedothatotheorespondent-instituteoneveroaccepted theoresignationoofotheoappellantoandocannotobeoallowedotootakeobenefitoofotheir ownowrongoand,othus,otheoreliefoasosoughtobyotheoappellantoinohisopetitionowas requiredotoobeograntedoinoaccordanceowithotheoprinciplesoofonaturalojustice andotheoimpugnedolettersodenyingotheobenefitsootootheoappellantowereorequired toobeoquashedobeingoarbitraryoandoinoviolationoofotheoArticleo14oofothe ConstitutionoofoIndia.o

¶15Learnedocounseloforotheoappellantohasoreliedouponotheojudgments ofotheoSupremeoCourtoofoIndiaoinoCiviloAppealoNo.6983-2021,odecidedoon

22.11.2021,otitledoaso'PrinceoJaibiroSinghoVs.oUnionoofoIndiaoandoOrs', o'ooDr.oRohitoKumaroVs.oSecretaryoOfficeoOfoLt.oGovernoroOfoDelhioandoOrs'o 2021o(8)oSCCo381oando'S.D.ManoharaoVs.oKonkanoRaiwayoCorporation Limitedoandoors'o2024oSCCoOnlineoSCo2546,oinofurtheranceoofohis arguments.o

¶16Perocontra,olearnedoSeniorocounseloappearingoonobehalfoofothe respondentsosubmitsothatotheoappellantohasonotoapproachedothisoCourtowith cleanohandsoandohasosuppressedotheomaterialofactsoasoregardsohisocontinuous absenceofromotheoveryostartoofotheocourse.oHeohasoarguedothatotheoappellant filedotheowritopetitionoasoanoafterthoughtoonlyowithotheointentotoogetoaowaiver fromopaymentoofotheopenaltyoamount,owhichoheootherwiseoisoliableotoopayoin termsoofotheoagreementobond,osecurities/contractoclause.oItoisofurtheroargued thatotheotenureoofotheocourseowasofromoJuly,o2018otooJune,o2021,owhen PGIMER,oChandigrahowasoconductingotheoexaminationoandocounsellingoof MD./MSocourses,owhereas,osinceoJanuary,o2021,otheopolicyohasobeenochanged andoitoisobeingoconductedoby oInstituteoofoNationaloImportanceoCombined EntranceoTesto(INIoCET)oAIIMS,oNewoDelhioandothatothereoisonooprovision forore-admissionoofotheoappellantointootheoMDo(InternaloMedicineocourse),oat thisobelatedostage.

¶17oItoisocontendedobyotheolearnedoSenioroCounselothatotheoappellant hadoexecutedoanoagreementowithotheo instituteotooserveotheoPGIMER, Chandigarhoforoaoperiodoofothreeoyears,ofailingowhich,oheowasoliableotoopay penaltyoamountingotooRs.5,00,000/-.oHeohasodrawnotheoattentionoofotheoCourt tooclauseo4,o5oando6oofotheoagreementotoocontendothatoinotermsothereof,othe appellantowasoliableotoodepositotheoamountoofoRs.5,00,000/-oandocouldonot seekowaiver,oasowronglyosoughtobyohim.oLearnedoSeniorocounselohasoalso referredotootheovariousolettersoissuedobyotheoProfessoroandoHead,oDepartment ofoInternaloMedicineotootheoDean,oPGIMER,oChandigarhotoocontendothatothe appellantohadojoinedotheodepartmentoono06.01.2018oandotillo21.02.2019,ohe hadoalreadyoavailedo206oleaves.oItohasoalsoobeenopointedooutothatowhenoit cameotootheoknowledgeoofotheoHeadoofotheoDepartmentothatotheoappellant joinedotheoIndianoRailwaysoService,oheowasoaskedotooclarifyotheosaidoposition andotoobringoNooObjectionoCertificateo(NOC)/properosanctionoleaveotoojoin theodepartment.oItoisosubmittedothatosinceotheoveryobeginning,otheoappellant hadonoointentionotoocompleteotheocourseoandoitoappearsothatoheowasoalreadyoin serviceowithotheoWesternoRailways,oasoisoapparentofromotheocommunication dated o24.06.2018 o(Annexureo R-10).oItohasoalsoobeen oarguedothatothe Appellantosleptooverotheomatteroandotheopetitionofiledobyohimosufferedofrom theoviceoofodelayoandolaches.oItois,otherefore,ocontendedobyotheolearnedoSenior CounselothatotheojudgmentopassedobyotheolearnedoSingleoJudge,odoesonot sufferofromoanyoillegalityooroperversityoandoheopraysoforodismissaloofothe presentoappeal.o IV. ANALYSISoANDoCONCLUSION:

¶18Weohaveoheardolearnedocounseloforotheopartiesoandohaveogone throughotheorecord,owithotheiroableoassistance.o

¶19Theoprimaryogroundoonowhichotheoappellantohasoassailedothe judgmentopassedobyotheolearnedoSingleoJudgeoisothatoheohasofailedotooconsider theofactsoofotheocase,oinotheirocorrectoperspective,oinosoomuchosoothatothe appellantowasoalwaysoreadyoandowillingotooperformohisodutiesoandoapartofrom hisoabsenceoforoaoshortoperiodoofotimeoonoaccountoofomedicaloinfirmityoand hisomarriage,oheocouldonotobeoblamedoforotheotimeotakenobyotheorespondent-instituteotooconstituteoaoMedicaloBoard.o

¶20Weohaveoscrutinizedoandoperusedotheoavermentsoofotheoparties andotheodocumentsobroughtoonorecord.ooTheoundisputedofactualopositionothat emanatesotherefrom,oisothatotheoAppellantohadotakenoaoconsiderablyolong periodoofoleave,ostartingofromotheoyearo2018oitself,owhichofactohasobeen suppressedoandoconcealedoinotheowritopetition.oThereoisonotoevenoaowhisperoin theoentireowritopetitionoaboutotheoleave/absenceoofotheoAppellantobefore January,o2019oandotootheocontrary,oitoisorepeatedlyostatedoinotheopetitionothat theoAppellant-Petitionerodevelopedosomeomedicaloproblemoafteroundergoing theocourseoforoaboutooneoyear.o oItoisoemphasizedoinoparagrapho11oofothe petitionothatoo"Evenoifopresumingothatotheoextensionoofoleaveoofotheopetitioner wasoonlyouptoo19.07.2020othenoforoaomereofiveodaysodelayodueotooheavy floodsoinotheonativeoplaceoofopetitioneroinoBihar,ocanotheopetionerobe debarredofromocontinuingohisoMDocourseoinoInternaloMedicineooinowhichohe alreadyohasodevotedo1olongoyearofromoJanuaryo2018otooDecembero2018." TheolearnedocounseloforotheoAppellantohasofailedotoocontrovertotheofactual positionoasoborneooutofromotheodocumentsoappendedowithotheowritten statementoshowingohisoprolongedoabsence,ostartingofromotheoyearo2018oitself andorepeatedosubmissionoandowithdrawalooforesignationoletters.ooOnoaopointed queryoraisedobyothisoCourt,oregardingotheoemploymentoofotheoappellantowith theoIndianoRailways,otheolearnedocounseloappearingoonobehalfoofothe appellant,ohasoconcededotootheosaidofactualoposition.oThus,oitoisoabundantly clearothatotheoappellantoisoguiltyoofosuppressionoofomaterialofactsoandoinoour consideredoopinion,othisogroundoitselfodisqualifiesotheoappellantofromoseeking anyoequitableoreliefounderotheoprovisionsoofoArticleo226oofotheoConstitutionoof India.o

¶21Theopleaotakenobyotheorespondent-institutionothatotheoappellant wasoinofactoneverointerestedoinopursuingohisocourseoandohisorepeatedoabsence andoexcusesoregardingodepressionoandosuicidalothoughtsowere,oaopretextoto somehowowriggleooutoofotheobindingopenaltyoclauseoandoseekoaowaiver thereof,ostandsofullyocorroborated.ooItoisoapparentothatotheoAppellantosoughtoto sailoinotwooboats.oTheomatteroisorequiredotoobeoexaminedofromoanotheroangle. TheoAppellantoisoaodoctoroandohasoaodutyotowardsohisopatientsoandosocietyoat large.oHisocontinuedoabsenceofromohisodutiesocausedoconsiderableodamageoto wideropublicointerest.oHeotookoawayotheochanceoofosomeootherocompetent candidateowhoocouldohaveojoinedotheocourseoandodulyoperformedohisoduties. Inosuchoviewoofotheomatter,oheodeservesonooindulgenceofromothisoCourt.o

¶22Weoare,otherefore,oinoagreementowithotheofindingsoofotheolearned SingleoJudgeothatotheoappellantowouldobeoboundobyotheoconditionsoofothe compulsoryobondoandothatoheocannotobeopermittedotoojoinotheocourseoin question, o at o this o stage, o especially o in o view o of o the opeculiar o facts o and circumstancesoofotheocase,owhereotheorepeatedoabsenceoofotheoappellantofrom theoveryostartoofotheocourseostandsoestablishedoandotheofactumoofohimobeing employedowithotheoIndianoRailwaysoisonotodisputed.

¶23Theoratiooofotheojudgmentsoreliedouponobyotheoappellant,owould notobeoapplicableoinotheopeculiarofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheopresentocase whereinotheoappellantoisoguiltyoofoprolongedoabsenceoandosuppressionoof materialofacts,oasodetailedohere-in-above.

¶24Inotheocircumstances,oweofindonoogroundotoointerfereowithothe decisionopassedobyotheolearnedoSingleoJudge,ovideoitsojudgmentoandoorder dated o 20.10.2023, o and o resultantly o theo present o letters o patent o appeal o is dismissed. o(ASHWANIoKUMARoMISHRA) (ROHIToKAPOOR) JUDGEo JUDGE

04.09.2025 smriti Whetherospeaking/reasoned.o:ooYes/No WhetheroReportable.o :o Yes/Nooo