Delhi HC Clears AIIMS Eligibility: Fragmented Residency Now Valid

The Delhi High Court has clearly ruled that fragmented residency is valid for AIIMS eligibility if the required duration is completed. The court said three years of postgraduate residency can be counted cumulatively, even if done across multiple institutions. This decision restores the candidature of a top-ranked doctor and brings clarity to AIIMS admission rules.

Delhi High Court Verdict Explained Simply

On February 3, 2026, the Delhi High Court set aside AIIMS’ decision to cancel a medical aspirant’s admission. The case involved Meet Bhadresh Shah, who secured All India Rank 4 in the INI-SS January 2026 exam. His admission to the DM Critical Care Medicine programme was rejected due to fragmented residency.

The court found this rejection unfair and legally incorrect.

Why AIIMS Cancelled The Admission

AIIMS argued that the candidate had completed his MD Anaesthesiology residency across more than one institution. According to AIIMS, residency should be from a single institute. Based on this view, his candidature was cancelled at the final stage.

This cancellation happened after counselling and result declaration, which became a key issue in the case.

What The Prospectus Actually Says

Justice Jasmeet Singh carefully examined Clause 4.3.2 of the INI-SS prospectus. The clause only requires completion of three years or 1,095 days of residency by the cut-off date. It does not mention that this must be from one institute.

The judge said the language is clear and silent on any single-institution condition. Because of this, AIIMS could not add its own interpretation later.

Covid Counselling And Fragmented Residency

The petitioner completed his residency across three NMC-recognised institutions. This happened due to counselling reshuffles during the Covid-19 pandemic. His total training period exceeded 1,095 days and was officially certified by Gujarat University.

The court acknowledged that such disruptions were common during the pandemic and should not be used to punish candidates.

Court Slams Last-Minute Rejection

One strong point in the judgment was timing. AIIMS accepted the application, issued an admit card, allowed counselling, and declared the candidate successful. No eligibility objection was raised until the very end.

The court said such surprise actions do not meet judicial scrutiny and damage trust in the selection process.

Merit Must Win Over Technicalities

Justice Singh stressed that merit and fairness should prevail. He said denying admission on procedural grounds, when eligibility is otherwise met, harms meritocracy. The right to pursue higher education may not be explicit, but the state has a duty to act fairly.

The court called the denial of admission in this case a travesty of merit.

What This Ruling Means For Medical Aspirants

This judgment brings relief to many doctors whose training was split due to unavoidable reasons. It sets a strong precedent that eligibility rules must be applied as written, not expanded later.

For future AIIMS and INI-SS admissions, clarity has been restored. If the required days are completed in the same discipline, a fragmented residency will count.

Final Outcome Of The Case

The Delhi High Court allowed the writ petition and directed AIIMS to restore the candidature of Meet Bhadresh Shah. His fragmented residency was declared valid under the prospectus.

This ruling strengthens fairness in medical admissions and protects deserving candidates from arbitrary rejections.