High Court of Chhattisgarh Permits Withdrawal of Challenge to 2021 PG Admission Rules Following New 2025 Rule Notification

In a recent procedural development at the High Court of Chhattisgarh, a petition challenging the constitutionality of the Chhattisgarh Medical Post Graduate Admission Rules, 2021, has been dismissed as withdrawn. The division bench, presided over by Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru, granted the petitioner liberty to initiate a fresh legal challenge against the newly enacted 2025 Admission Rules.

Case Background

The petitioner, Dr. Samriddhi Dubey, had approached the High Court seeking to strike down Rule 11(a) and 11(b) of the Chhattisgarh Medical Post Graduate Admission Rules, 2021. Dr. Dubey’s petition contended that these specific provisions were ultra vires and unconstitutional, arguing that they violated the equality guarantee enshrined in Article 14 of the Constitution of India. The petitioner sought a writ of certiorari, requesting the court to direct the authorities to cease the alleged discriminatory practices between candidate categories defined under the challenged rules.

Arguments Presented

During the hearing, senior counsel for the petitioner, Mr. Rajeev Shrivastava, articulated the concerns regarding the discriminatory nature of the 2021 admission regulations. However, the matter took a turn when the Advocate General for the State of Chhattisgarh, Mr. Prafull N. Bharat, informed the bench that the regulatory landscape had fundamentally shifted. He submitted that the 2021 Rules had been superseded; the new Chhattisgarh Medical Post Graduate Admission Rules, 2025, were officially published on November 7, 2025.

Legal Analysis and Observations

Given the notification of the 2025 Rules, the foundational grievance of the petitioner transitioned from the existing regulatory framework to a superseded one. The court recognized that a legal challenge against the 2021 rules would be nugatory in light of the updated statutory instruments.

The court noted the shift in the state's legislative stance, observing: > "At the very outset, learned Advocate General submits that Chhattisgarh Medical Post Graduate Admission Rules, 2021 which has been challenged in the present petition has been amended and new Rules, 2025 have been published on 7th November, 2025."

Court’s Decision

Following the submission by the Advocate General, counsel for the petitioner requested leave from the court to withdraw the current writ petition. Granting the request, the bench allowed the petitioner to seek legal redress against the newly notified rules should the grievances persist.

The Court concluded: > "In view of the submissions made by learned Advocate General, learned counsel for the petitioner prays for withdrawal of the present petition with liberty to file fresh challenging the new Rules, 2025. In view of the aforesaid, present petition is dismissed as withdrawn with the aforesaid liberty, as prayed for."

This ruling underscores the court's pragmatic approach to procedural efficiency, ensuring that judicial resources are focused on active legislative frameworks. Dr. Dubey maintains the right to contest the 2025 rules, ensuring that the question of parity in medical admissions remains open for future litigation if deemed necessary.