RADHIKA ASHAR Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The petitioners are candidates for admission to postgraduate AYUSH courses. They are students of the Bachelors Degree courses [BUMS/BAMS/BSMS/BHMS] and have taken the All India Ayush Postgraduate Entrance Test, 2021 ["AIAPGET-2021"] on 18/9/2021.

(2.) The National Testing Agency [respondent No. 3] called for applications for the AIAPGET-2021 by a public notice dtd. 03.08.2021. An information bulletin was also published, in which the eligibility condition with regard to internship was laid down in paragraph 5.3, which reads as follows:-

(3.) Mr. Manoj Khanna, learned counsel for the petitioners, submits that the petitioners have secured meritorious ranks in the AIAPGET-2021, but will be unable to qualify for the postgraduate courses unless some flexibility is shown in the last date of completion of internships. He submits that the petitioners' internships were delayed by reasons arising out of Covid-19 pandemic, as the issuance of their provisional degree certificates was delayed by the concerned universities. Mr. Khanna further points out that the counselling for admission to postgraduate courses has been delayed by virtue of orders passed by the Supreme Court in proceedings filed by Economically Weaker Sec. category candidates [W.P.(C) 961/2021: Neil Aurelio Nunes and Ors. vs. Union of India and Ors.].