OM PRAKASH SHUKLA, J.

1. This Letters Patent Appeal assails the impugned judgment dated 16.06.2025 passed by learned Single Judge whereby W.P.(C) 7066/2025, instituted by Respondent No. 1 herein, was allowed with a direction to de-reserve an Other Backwards Classes¹“OBC” hereinafter category seat to unreserved²“UR” hereinafter category in the Respondent No. 3 Hospital.

2. Briefly put, the dispute revolves around the right of Respondent No. 1, a UR candidate, to seek de-reservation of a seat in Respondent No. 3 Hospital earmarked for OBC category, on the ground that the seat having remained vacant in academic year 2025 due to lack of eligible candidates, would otherwise lapse and ought to be converted to prevent wastage.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

3. Shorn off unnecessary details, Respondent No. 1 is a practicing Radiologist who appeared for the DNB PDCET 2025³Diplomate of National Board Post Diploma Centralised Entrance Test conducted by the Appellant (National Board of Examinations). Admittedly, Respondent No. 1 belongs to the UR category. The Appellant is the authority that conducts the said examination.

4. Upon securing 142nd rank in Radio-Diagnosis in the UR category, Respondent No. 1