S PRAVEEN KUMAR Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This matter is taken up for final hearing through Video-Conferencing with the consent of all the counsel.

(2.) The core question that arises in all these Writ Petitions is the validity of the Bonds that were extracted from the petitioners or their guardians at the time of admission into MBBS course in the third respondent college run by the second respondent viz., The Employees State Insurance Corporation. Since all the petitioners are similarly placed and their grievances are common, these Writ Petitions were taken up for hearing together and are disposed of by a common order.

(3.) The petitioners, who appeared for counselling were allotted seats in the third respondent College on the basis of merit and only when they were to join the College, they were informed that they will have to execute a bond undertaking to serve for 5 years in any one of the Hospitals run by the second respondent in India or in default to pay a sum of Rs.7,50,000/- with interest at 15% per annum. They were also informed that in the event of their refusal to execute such a bond, the allotments made to them would be cancelled. According to the petitioners, left without any option, they had executed the bonds and had joined the institution. They have also completed the course successfully. As per the bond conditions, the second respondent had given them appointment orders directing them to serve in various Hospitals run by the second respondent Corporation throughout the country.