The mandatory service period under a student bond for medical postgraduates commences from the date of course completion, not from the date of subsequent appointment or posting.

ORDER

The petitioner challenges the proceedings dated 27.03.2026 issued by the third respondent in R.No.10305312/E5/A4/2025-58, insofar as they direct the petitioner to serve for a minimum period of two years from the date of joining at the place of posting.

2. At the time of admission to the postgraduate degree course in M.S. Orthopaedics, the petitioner had executed a bond undertaking to serve the Government of Tamil Nadu for a period of two years. The petitioner completed the postgraduate course in October 2025, and thereafter, the third respondent issued the impugned proceedings.

3. The contention of the petitioner is that the condition requiring him to serve for a minimum period of two years from the date of joining at the place of posting is arbitrary and discriminatory, since he is liable to serve only for a period of two years from the date of completion of the course. In support of the said contention, reliance has been placed on the judgment of the Division Bench of this Court in W.A. No. 799 of 2019 and the connected batch of cases dated 06.10.2020.

4. Mr.P.Subbaraj, learned Special Government Pleader appearing for the respondents, fairly submitted that the period of two years has to be reckoned from the date of completion of the course and, therefore, the impugned proceedings may be suitably modified to that effect.

5. The submissions made by the learned counsel appearing on either side have been duly considered.

6. The facts narrated above are not in dispute. In the impugned proceedings, the petitioner has been directed to serve for a period of two years from the date of joining at the place of posting. However, the Division Bench of this Court in W.A. No. 799 of 2019 and the connected batch of cases has categorically held that the applicability of the bond condition would be co-terminous with a period of two years from the date on which the candidate successfully completes the course and would not extend beyond the said period.

7. Therefore, the petitioner is liable to serve under the Government of Tamil Nadu only for a period of two years from the date of completion of the course. To that extent, the impugned proceedings require modification.

8. Accordingly, this Writ Petition is partly allowed, and the impugned proceedings dated 27.03.2026, insofar as they require the petitioner to serve for a minimum period of two years from the date of joining at the place of posting, are modified to the effect that the minimum period of two years shall be reckoned from the date of completion of the course, namely, from October 2025 to October 2027.

9. There shall be no order as to costs. Consequently, the connected miscellaneous petitions are closed.