Haryana Government Orders Four Medical Colleges to Return Original Documents of MBBS Graduates Before 2 November, Protecting Their Postgraduate Admissions

VoS NEWS DESK | EDUCATION & HIGHER STUDIES | 31 OCTOBER 2026

The directive follows representations from approximately 300 MBBS graduates who had approached the state authorities seeking the return of their original documents. The doctors had cleared the NEET-PG examination and secured postgraduate seats, but were facing difficulties completing the admission process because essential academic certificates remained in the custody of their respective government medical colleges.

The matter became urgent as candidates were required to present their original documents for physical verification by 2 November. Without these certificates, graduates risked losing postgraduate seats they had secured after years of medical education and competitive examinations.

According to the government order, the directive covers four institutions: PGIMS Rohtak, BPS Government Medical College in Sonipat, Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College in Karnal, and SHKM Government Medical College in Nalhar, Nuh. The institutions have been instructed to take immediate steps to release the required documents and complete the process within the stipulated period.

The dispute developed around the state's Service Incentive Bond Policy, under which government medical colleges retain certain documents to ensure that graduates fulfil their public-service obligations. However, students argued that the retention of all their original academic records was creating unnecessary difficulties in pursuing higher education.

The documents reportedly included MBBS degrees, mark sheets, internship completion certificates, character certificates, attempt certificates and other registration-related records. Graduates maintained that the bond policy permitted the retention of their permanent MBBS degrees, while other documents were required to remain accessible to them for academic and professional purposes.

The government has now established separate arrangements for graduates who have secured postgraduate admission within Haryana and those who will pursue further studies outside the state.

Candidates admitted to postgraduate institutions within Haryana will have their documents transferred between the concerned colleges through official arrangements. They will also be required to submit an undertaking confirming that they will complete their remaining government service after finishing their postgraduate course, within three months of its completion.

For graduates who have secured seats outside Haryana, the original documents will be released after they provide an undertaking to return the MBBS degree and other academic certificates to their respective colleges within three weeks of completing their postgraduate degree or diploma. They will also remain responsible for fulfilling the outstanding government service obligation.

An important provision concerns the period spent pursuing postgraduate education. According to the reported government arrangements, the prescribed two or three years of postgraduate study, depending on the course, will count towards the five-year service bond. Graduates will therefore be required to complete only the remaining period of service after finishing their higher studies.

The policy itself was introduced through a notification dated 21 December 2022. It applies to students admitted to government medical colleges from the 2020–21 academic session and government-aided institutions from the 2022–23 session. The first covered batch, comprising approximately 595 doctors, became eligible for bond-service arrangements from March 2026.

The government has also initiated steps to address the employment arrangements for these graduates. Eligible doctors will be offered contractual appointments in public health institutions across Haryana. They will be required to indicate whether they wish to join government service or fulfil their bond obligations by paying the applicable amount, either as a lump sum or through instalments.

The authorities have instructed the four medical colleges to collect the necessary information and candidates' choices. College offices have been directed to remain operational, including on holidays, to ensure that the documentation process is completed without delay. The department has also sought an action-taken report by 3 November, while requests received by the colleges or the Directorate of Medical Education and Research are to be decided within two days.

The development is particularly significant for young doctors seeking specialisation in fields such as medicine, surgery, paediatrics and other postgraduate disciplines. Admission to these programmes involves competitive examinations and strict verification schedules. Delays in releasing original certificates can create serious administrative obstacles, even for candidates who have already secured a seat.

VoS STRATEGIC INSIGHT

The Haryana government's decision highlights the importance of balancing public-service obligations with the academic and professional development of medical graduates. Service bond policies are designed to strengthen public healthcare by encouraging doctors to work in government institutions. However, their implementation must also ensure that graduates are not prevented from pursuing further education or completing essential admission procedures.

Postgraduate medical education plays a significant role in developing specialist healthcare professionals. Doctors who complete MD and MS programmes can contribute to more advanced medical services, including specialised treatment, diagnosis and hospital care. Enabling them to continue their education while maintaining their bond commitments could therefore benefit both the graduates and the state's healthcare system.

The arrangements also introduce a clearer process for candidates studying within Haryana and those moving to institutions in other states. Written undertakings and defined document-return periods provide an administrative framework for protecting the government's service requirements while allowing graduates to progress academically.

However, the implementation of the directive will be crucial. The colleges must release the documents within the deadline, and the authorities must ensure that contractual appointments and service obligations are communicated clearly. The success of the arrangement will depend on whether graduates can complete their admissions without unnecessary delays while the state maintains an effective system for public-sector medical recruitment.

For the affected doctors, the immediate priority is completing physical verification before 2 November. For Haryana, the wider challenge is ensuring that its bond policy supports the availability of doctors in public institutions without creating barriers to higher medical education.

Source: The Times of India and The Tribune.