NEW DELHI – The United Doctors Front (UDF) has filed a petition in the Delhi High Court. The petition challenges the centralized recruitment of Senior Residents (SR) in Delhi government hospitals, alleging constitutional rights violations, arbitrariness, and a lack of transparency.
UDF seeks to invalidate results declared on January 5, 2025 , and a correction notification issued on January 13, 2025 . The Delhi health department’s Centralised Recruitment Committee conducted the process. The petition claims the recruitment violated Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution of India, guaranteeing equality before law and equal opportunity in public employment.
Recruitment Process Criticized
The recruitment process began on October 24, 2024 . UDF described it as “structurally opaque and internally inconsistent.” This led to discrimination and unequal treatment, according to the doctors’ front.
Candidates with nine to ten months of ad-hoc senior residency experience, and complete documentation, were reportedly excluded. Conversely, the petition states candidates with minimal experience, some with only a few days, and without final mark sheets were selected.
The committee never disclosed interview marks, assessment sheets, or any merit list. This made the selection unverifiable. Dr. Lakshya Mittal, UDF Chairperson and National President, stated sanctioned posts remained unfilled. He added post-result reshuffling exposed systemic flaws.
Eligibility Conditions Changed
The committee modified eligibility conditions during the recruitment process. The first addendum enhanced age limits for specific specialties. It also granted provisional eligibility to candidates awaiting results or registration. Additionally, vacancy positions were substantially revised across multiple hospitals and specialties.
Further revisions to vacancy positions occurred in additional hospitals. The application deadline extended due to these relaxed eligibility conditions. Interviews took place at Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) and associated hospitals from November 28 to December 3, 2024 .
Anomalies and Unfilled Vacancies
The January 5, 2025 , results showed multiple anomalies. These included category-wise errors and the non-filling of advertised vacancies. Doctors also noted deviations from candidate preferences and the absence of disclosed marks or merit rankings.
On January 9, 2025 , affected candidates submitted a representation to MAMC’s dean. They cited a lack of counselling, upgradation, or vacancy-rotation mechanisms. They also noted unfilled sanctioned posts in Radiology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Paediatrics, despite eligible candidates.
A revised merit list on January 13, 2025 , rectified some category and clerical errors. It also reshuffled panels and postings. However, core grievances remained unaddressed, the petition states.
One anomaly involved a general category candidate initially selected for a Scheduled Caste (SC) seat on January 5 . This error was corrected in the January 13 revised list. UDF called it a fundamental defect impacting reservation compliance. The corrigendum showed post-result reshuffling without disclosed norms.
UDF Demands Fresh Process
The United Doctors Front demands the quashing of both the January 5 and January 13 results. UDF seeks directions for a fresh, transparent, and merit-based selection process for Senior Resident positions. The Delhi High Court will now review the petition.