Quick Summary: The Delhi High Court decided that Meet Bhadresh Shah could join a Super-Speciality Medical Course at AIIMS, even though there were initial concerns about whether he had completed enough training.
Meet Bhadresh Shah wanted to study Critical Care Medicine at AIIMS but was told he couldn't join on January 2, 2026. The problem was that he hadn't finished the required 1095 days of training by January 31, 2026, as stated in AIIMS's guide.
"The candidates must have completed the requisite qualification, degree and tenure by 31.01.2026." - Clause 4.3.2, AIIMS Prospectus
Shah started with an MBBS degree from GCS Medical College in Ahmedabad in 2021. He then moved between several colleges because of COVID-19 disruptions and scheduling overlaps:
Even with these changes, Shah completed the required 1095 days of training through all his experiences.
AIIMS said Shah's training should only count from one school. They canceled his admission, saying he only had 1026 days from GCS Medical College. However, Shah argued that his total training, including a 96-day senior residency after his MD, was more than enough.
The court, led by Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, agreed with Shah. They noted that AIIMS had allowed similar cases before, like Dr. Jay Mehta's, to count experience after the MD.
"The total senior residency experience would, thus, be 1026+96=1122 days, which is more than 1095 days’ experience." - Court Ruling
On February 28, 2026, the court told AIIMS to admit Shah, emphasizing fairness and consistency in how they interpret the eligibility rules.
"Since today is the last date of seeking admission, we direct that this order shall be communicated to AIIMS forthwith."
Shah's determination paid off, setting an example for future admissions and showing the need for clear rules in academic policies.
This case shows how important it is to have clear eligibility rules and the role of courts in making sure educational admissions are fair.
