Haryana MBBS graduates fear losing NEET-PG seats over ‘bond policy, withheld documents’

More than 300 MBBS graduates from the 2020 batch of Haryana’s government medical colleges, who have qualified NEET-PG 2026, fear losing their postgraduate (PG) seats as the authorities have not returned their original documents required for admission.The original documents of these medical graduates remain in the ‘custody’ of their respective colleges as per the government’s existing bond policy to incentivise doctors to opt for government service upon completion of MBBS degree.The graduates, who completed their MBBS degrees in February this year, said the delay had put their admissions at risk, with the next stage of counselling scheduled for November 2. Many have secured PG seats through counselling, including in colleges of their first preference.‘Govt.’s negligence’In a video appeal, Khushi, a 2020-batch student of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak, said she had secured an All India rank of 6,200 in NEET-PG 2026 and had been allotted an MD seat. However, she was unable to complete the admission formalities without her original documents. “As per the guidelines, we have to produce our original documents. But due to the government’s negligence, we are not getting our original documents,” she said.Ms. Khushi said the bond policy, introduced by the Haryana government in 2020 and revised in December 2022, had explicitly stated that students’ higher education would not be obstructed. “When the bond was imposed, it was clearly mentioned that no student’s higher education would be stopped. But now our higher education is being hampered,” she said.The first batch affected by the policy comprises approximately 600 graduates. The students said they had repeatedly approached the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), college deans and directors, but had received no response to their representations.Akshat Mittal, another 2020-batch MBBS graduate of PGIMS, Rohtak, said those who had qualified NEET-PG and secured PG seats were at risk of losing opportunities earned through merit because they could not access their documents.The graduates are also seeking clarity on the availability of government jobs through which they are expected to fulfil their bond-service obligations.Ms. Khushi appealed to the government to intervene before the admission deadline. “If the government does not respond in time, our last option will be to go to court,” she said.In a letter to Director, DMER, Dhirendra Khadgata, the Indian Medical Association said: “It must be emphasised that when students entered the MBBS programme and executed the bond agreement, they were given an assurance that the policy was designed to serve the public healthcare framework, not to act as a hurdle in their pursuit of higher medical education.”‘Contradicts commitment’The letter added that withholding the original academic credentials of the students at this pivotal juncture “directly contradicts that core commitment”.Mr. Khadgata told The Hindu over phone that the directorate had written to the State government in this connection and the matter was expected to be resolved by tomorrow. Published - October 28, 2026 08:44 pm IST