The Delhi High Court has issued notice on a writ petition filed by a group of doctors serving in Delhi Government hospitals, challenging the prolonged delay in the commencement of counselling for in-service Post MBBS DNB seats reserved for Government of NCT of Delhi doctors for the Academic Session 2025.
A Bench of Justice Jasmeet Singh directed the Government of NCT of Delhi (GNCTD) to file its response on an urgent basis and listed the matter for further hearing on August 14, 2026.
The petitioners, represented by Advocate Tanvi Dubey, contended that although they had qualified NEET-PG 2025 and were eligible for admission under the in-service quota, the Delhi Government had failed to initiate the counselling process despite almost a year having elapsed since the examination. It was argued that repeated representations to the Health Department and the Office of the Lieutenant Governor had elicited no response, placing the petitioners at risk of losing an entire academic year.
During the hearing, Dubey submitted that the counselling process for Delhi Government doctors had not commenced even though the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) had completed all rounds of counselling, including the stray vacancy round, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) had already conducted counselling for its own in-service DNB seats. The petition also states that 50% of DNB seats in NBEMS-accredited State Government hospitals are reserved for in-service candidates, with the designated State authority responsible for conducting counselling.
The Court questioned the respondents on the reason for the delay, observing, “Why has the counselling not started? These are all doctors waiting for counselling to start?”
Counsel appearing for the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) clarified that NBEMS was not responsible for conducting the State counselling and that the responsibility lay with the Government of NCT of Delhi.
Taking note of the submissions, the Court directed GNCTD to file its reply expeditiously and fixed the matter for hearing on August 14, 2026.