In Brief
A doctor who cleared the highly competitive INICET-2020 exam and secured admission to a postgraduate course at PGI Chandigarh could not join because the Government denied Study Leave during the COVID-19 pandemic based on a legitimate policy decision. Although the Government acted within legal parameters, the Court held that denying relief on purely technical grounds would be unjust, especially after the pandemic situation improved significantly. The Court directed the Government to reconsider the Study Leave application and PGI to admit the appellant to the July 2021 postgraduate session, holding that exceptional relief may be granted when a meritorious candidate sacrifices personal advancement for public interest and circumstances substantially improve.
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