IMPORTANT POINT
The main legal point established in the judgment is the necessity to uphold the integrity and efficiency of the educational admission system, precluding measures that would induce extensive delays and potentially disrupt the academic progression of numerous candidates already poised to commence their studies.

JUDGMENT

Sanjeev Narula, J. (Oral) - This letters patent appeal (LPA) arises out of the judgment dated 11th October, 2023, passed by the learned Single Judge of this Court, in W.P. (C) 13322/2023 [hereinafter "impugned judgment"]. In the writ petition, the Appellant contested the methodology employed in the allotment of specific seats during the admission process for postgraduate courses at Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) institutions. The crux of the dispute centred on the decision by Respondent No. 2-Director General, Armed Forces Medical Service ["DGAFMS"]-to directly allocate ten additional DNB seats at Base Hospital, New Delhi, during the counselling for "Priority-V" category candidates. These seats, it is crucial to note, were not made available in the preceding counselling rounds for candidates in the higher "Priority" categories, namely Priority-I through IV. The learned Single Judge, however, recognized that reintroducing said seats to candidates from earlier stages would potentially trigger a perpetual cycle of counselling, an outcome deemed impractical. Acknowledging this, the learned Single Judge opted not to intervene in the counselling procedure. The Appellant's challenge, therefore, is narrowly tailored to address the propriety of the allocation process concerning these additional seats, questioning both transparency and equity of the said process.

FACTS AND PETITIONER'S CONTENTIONS

2. The brief facts of the case as laid out in the petition and submissions advanced by learned counsel for Appellant, are as under:

2.1. The Appellant, Dr. (Maj.) Shivani Dhaka (Retd.), is an ex-servicewoman of Short Service Commission (SSC) of AFMS. The Appellant, desirous of pursuing higher education at AFMS Institutions, appeared for NEET-PG exam in March 2023, where she secured 440 marks and an All India Rank of 35917.

2.2. On 26th July, 2023, DGAFMS invited applications for Post Graduate courses from eligible candidates for the session 2023-2026. As per the scheme of counselling, the order of preference of candidates for allotment of seats is specified as under:

(a) Priority-I: Eligible serving officers of the AFMS.

(b) Priority-II: Foreign students sponsored by Government.

(c) Priority-III: Medical officers sponsored by Para Military Forces/other Government of India organizations.

(d) Priority-IV: Ex-SSC AFMS officers released from service after completion of contractual service, within three years after the release from service i.e., the date of release should not be before 01st May 2020 and after the last date of joining into the courses as notified by MCC.

(e) Priority-V: Civilian doctors willing to serve in AFMS for five years after completion of the course subject to fulfilling the eligibility criteria. The candidate will have to execute a bond agreement to pay an amount as sanctioned by the Government of India at the time of admission, in case unwilling to join AFMS, when offered commission on completion of the course.

2.3. The Appellant desirous of attaining postgraduate medical qualification registered on MCC/DGHS (MoHFW) website as a "Priority-IV" candidate. The admission process for postgraduate courses is governed by the terms and conditions laid down in the Information Bulletin, for Post Graduate Courses in AFMS through NEET-PG 2023 [hereinafter "the Information Bulletin"]. On 10th August, 2023, a seat matrix for AFMS PG counselling 2023 was published on the website of AFMS which reflected a total of 145 seats. However, no seats of Base Hospital, New Delhi-which were sought by the Appellant, were shown in the seat matrix:

2.4. Subsequently, another notification dated 11th August, 2023 was issued amending the seat matrix as follows:

2.5. As per the merit list for Priority-IV candidates provisionally eligible for counselling published on 11th August, 2023; Appellant was ranked 21 out of a total of 81 candidates in Priority-IV category. However, no seats of Base Hospital, New Delhi were shown in the seat matrix published on 11