APHC010009862026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI WRIT PETITION NO: 828 of 2026 Bench Sr.No:-15 [3446] Dr. Md. Siraj Uddin ...Petitioner Vs. State of Andhra Pradesh and others ...Respondents ********** Advocate for Petitioner : Smt. M.S.V.S. Sudha Rani Advocate for Respondents : Mrs. Tata Venkata Sridevi, Standing Counsel for Dr. N.T.R. University of Health Sciences CORAM : THE CHIEF JUSTICE DHIRAJ SINGH THAKUR SRI JUSTICE R RAGHUNANDAN RAO DATE : 8th January 2026 P C : Heard Smt. M.S.V.S. Sudha Rani, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, and Mrs. Tata Venkata Sridevi, learned Standing Counsel for Dr. N.T.R. University of Health Sciences. 2. The petitioner herein is presently working as Civil Assistant Surgeon, Primary Health Centre, Nallajerla, East Godavari District. The petitioner had appeared in the NEET-PG 2025 entrance examination conducted on 03.08.2025 for admission to PG Medical Courses. He sought admission under the in-service category. However, the request of the petitioner was denied on the ground that the petitioner did not have the 2 HCJ & RRRJ W.P.No.828 of 2026 eligibility to be considered under this category inasmuch as the notification, dated 18.09.2025, issued by the 3rd respondent fixed the cut-off date for counting the service of the petitioner for eligibility as an in-service candidate to be 16.04.2025 while the petitioner became eligible only on 02.05.2025. 3. The petitioner, being aggrieved by this cut-off date, has approached this Court by way of the present writ petition. 4. It is the contention of the petitioner that the cut-off date in cases of the earlier admissions in the year 2024 used to be after the date of examination while the present cut-off date was fixed before the date of the entrance examination. The petitioner also contended that he was falling short of the eligibility criteria by only 15 days and as such, he is entitled to be considered under the in-service category. 5. The Government of Andhra Pradesh had issued G.O.Ms.No.206, Health, Medical and Family Welfare (C1) Department, dated 11.08.2022, which fixed the minimum period of service for being considered as in-service candidates for all those candidates who are serving in the medical services in the State. Under this G.O., any person who had served on a regular and continuous service for a minimum period of two years in tribal areas or for a minimum period of three years of regular and continuous service in medical institutions in rural areas or for a minimum period of six years of continuous and regular service in other institutions controlled by the State was eligible to be considered as in-service candidate who could be admitted to the seats 3 HCJ & RRRJ W.P.No.828 of 2026 reserved for such in-service candidate. The last date for calculating such period of service is fixed on an annual basis by way of the notifications issued for applications for admission into the P.G. Medical Degree/Diploma Courses in the State of Andhra Pradesh. The notification, dated 18.09.2025, issued by the 3rd respondent-University for the academic year 2025-2026 had fixed the cut-off date as 16.04.2025. The petitioner who had served from 02.05.2022 in a rural area would be eligible to be considered as an in-service candidate only from 02.05.2025 and was treated as ineligible. 6. Though it is true that the petitioner is missing the cut-off date by 15 days, we find it difficult to intervene in the matter as any other cut-off date would similarly be liable to face challenges by any number of doctors serving in the medical services who would have completed the prescribed minimum service beyond the cut-off date. This would lead to a scenario where the process of admission in the P.G. Courses would get delayed ad infinitum. 7. In the circumstances, we do not find any reason to intervene in the matter and accordingly, this Writ Petition is dismissed. No costs. Consequently, miscellaneous applications pending, if any, shall stand closed. DHIRAJ SINGH THAKUR, CJ R.RAGHUNANDAN RAO, J BSM/kbs 4 HCJ & RRRJ W.P.No.828 of 2026 260 HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE DHIRAJ SINGH THAKUR, CHIEF JUSTICE & HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE R.RAGHUNANDAN RAO WRIT PETITION No.828 of 2026 (per Hon’ble Sri Justice R. Raghunandan Rao) Dt. 08.01.2026 BSM/kbs