Challenging Policy Change Does Not Justify Interim Relief: Delhi High Court Refuses to Suspend Training Rules for Armed Forces Medical Officers

1. Case Snapshot

Case Name: Major Jayati Chandra vs Union Of India & Ors. (with Major Eshaan Segan vs Union Of India & Ors.)

Citation: W.P.(C) 8370/2026 & W.P.(C) 8372/2026

High Court: High Court of Delhi

Bench: Hon'ble Ms. Justice Mini Pushkarna and Hon'ble Mr. Justice Vinod Kumar (Vacation Judges)

Date of Decision: 29th June, 2026

Area of Law: Service Law, Constitutional Law, Armed Forces Law, Medical Education, Interim Relief

2. Judgment in Brief

The Delhi High Court dismissed two writ petitions filed by Short Service Commission (SSC) officers of the Armed Forces Medical Services challenging the orders of the Armed Forces Tribunal (AFT) denying them interim relief to apply for the NEET PG Examination, 2026. The petitioners, who had been in service since 2017 and 2018 respectively, sought permission to appear for the NEET PG Exam despite the reduction of the eligible service period from 10 years to 7 years under the Training and Professional Progression Rules for Medical/Non-Technical Officers of Armed Forces Medical Services, 2025. The AFT had refused interim relief, noting that the petitioners had earlier opportunities to apply but either did not apply or failed in the examination process. The High Court upheld the AFT's decision, holding that granting interim relief would effectively suspend the operation of the 2025 Rules while the final adjudication was still pending, and in any case, the petitioners would have time till 2028 to apply if they ultimately succeeded. The petitions were dismissed.

3. Relevant Facts

The Petitioners

• Major Jayati Chandra and Major Eshaan Segan are Short Service Commission (SSC) officers in the Armed Forces Medical Services.

• Major Jayati Chandra has been in service since 2017.

• Major Eshaan Segan has been in service since 2018.

The Training Rules - 2018

• The Training Rules for Medical/Non-Technical Officers of the Armed Forces Medical Services, 2018 (Training Rules 2018) were issued on 12th February, 2018.

• Rule 14(a)(ii) provided that SSC officers were eligible to apply for PG courses (MD/MS/DNB/Dip) during 4 to 10 years of physical service as Captain or equivalent.

• The cut-off date for physical service was 30th April of the year in which the course commenced.

The Training Rules - 2025

• The Training and Professional Progression Rules for Medical/Non-Technical Officers of Armed Forces Medical Services, 2025 (Training Rules 2025) were notified in

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