1 CGHC010325782026 2026:CGHC:37538 NAFR HIGH COURT OF CHHATTISGARH AT BILASPUR WPS No. 6276 of 2026 Yogeshwari Verma D/o Pannalal Verma,w/o Vimal Verma, Aged About 30 Years R/o 55, Ward 11, Bus Stand, Belargondi, Chhuriya, District Rajnandgaon (C.G.) ... Petitioner(s) versus 1. State Of Chhattisgarh Through The Secretary, Department Of Health And Family Welfare, Mahanadi Bhawan, Nava Raipur, Atal Nagar, District Raipur (C.G.) 2. The Mission Director, National Health Mission (Nhm), Swasthya Bhawan, Sector-27, Nava Raipur, Atal Nagar,district Raipur (C.G.) 3. The Director, Directorate Of Health Services, North Block, Sector 19, Swasthya Bhawan, Nava Raipur, Atal Nagar, District Raipur (C.G.) 4. The Collector, Rajnandgaon, District Rajnandgaon (C.G.) 5. The Chief Medical And Health Officer (Cmho), Rajnandgaon, District Rajnandgaon (C.G.) 6. The Chief Medical And Health Officer (Cmho), Khairagarh- Chhuikhadan-Gandai (Kcg), District Khairagarh-Gandai (Kcg), C.G. 7. The District Level Rectuitment Committee, Office Of The Chief Medical And Health Officer (Cmho), Rajnandgaon, District Rajnandgaon (C.G.) ... Respondent(s) (Cause title is taken from Case Information System) For Petitioner : Mr. Siddharth Pandey, Advocate For Respondent/ State : Mr. Shahil Singh, P.L. For Respondent No. 2 : Mr. C.J.K. Rao, Advocate JYOTI SHARMA Digitally signed by JYOTI SHARMA Date: 2026.08.21 14:48:29 +0530 2 Hon'ble Shri Bibhu Datta Guru , Judge Order on Board 21.08.2026 1. By the present writ petition, the petitioner seeks a direction to the respondent authorities to grant her 10 bonus marks for the experience gained by her while rendering services during the COVID-19 pandemic for the period from 22.03.2020 to 10.02.2022 at Civil Hospital, Khairagarh, in recruitment process for the posts of Nursing Officer/ Staff Nurse and 2nd ANM/ANM under the National Health Mission (NHM) for the year 2026-27 on the basis of experience certificate. 2. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, by referring to the experience certificate dated 08.08.2023 (Annexure P-2), submits that although the said certificate was issued by the Block Medical Officer, Khairagarh, the same was duly countersigned by the Chief Medical and Health Officer on 21.08.2023. He further refers to the document at page 21 of the writ petition and submits that, by letter dated 08.08.2026, the Chief Medical and Health Officer has specifically clarified that the experience certificate dated 08.08.2023 was countersigned by him. 3. Learned counsel appearing for respondents submits that the petitioner participated in the recruitment process for the posts of Nursing Officer/Staff Nurse and 2nd ANM/ANM under the National Health Mission (NHM) for the year 2026-27. He submits that although the petitioner applied for both the aforesaid posts, 3 during the Dawa-Apatti Nirakaran Suchi, she was found ineligible and was not awarded 10 bonus marks for having rendered services during the COVID-19 pandemic, in view of Clause 21(A) of the advertisement. 4. Referring to Clause 21(A) of the advertisement, learned counsel for respondent No.2 submits that, for posts where experience is prescribed, only experience certificates issued by the District Department Head of a Government institution and certificates issued by public institutions and Government-funded institutions are valid. It is contended that the experience certificate produced by the petitioner was not issued by the District Department Head, but by the Block Medical Officer, Khairagarh. It is further submitted that the aforesaid condition contained in the advertisement was never challenged by the petitioner at the relevant time and, having been found ineligible during document verification, she has approached this Court belatedly. Hence, the relief sought cannot be granted. 5. I have heard learned counsel for the parties and perused the material available on record. 6. A perusal of Clause 21(A) of the advertisement indicates that the experience certificate is required to be issued by the competent District-level authority. In the present case, the experience certificate dated 08.08.2023 (Annexure P-2) certifies that the petitioner rendered her services during the COVID-19 pandemic 4 from 22.03.2020 to 10.02.2022 at Civil Hospital, Khairagarh. Though the certificate was issued by the Block Medical Officer, Khairagarh, the same was subsequently countersigned by the Chief Medical and Health Officer on 21.08.2023. More importantly, the Chief Medical and Health Officer has, by his subsequent communication dated 08.08.2026, clarified that the experience certificate dated 08.08.2023 was duly countersigned by him. 7. In view of the aforesaid undisputed factual position, the objection of the respondents that the certificate does not satisfy the requirement of Clause 21(A) of the advertisement cannot be sustained. The countersignature of the Chief Medical and Health Officer, coupled with his subsequent clarification, sufficiently establishes the validity of the experience certificate for the purpose of awarding the bonus marks contemplated under Clause 21(A) of the advertisement. 8. Accordingly, the petitioner is held entitled to consideration for grant of 10 bonus marks on the basis of the experience certificate (Annexure P-2) for having rendered services during the COVID- 19 pandemic, in accordance with the applicable Government circular. 9. Consequently, respondent Nos.5 and 7 are directed to reconsider the case of the petitioner and award her 10 bonus marks for the services rendered by her during the COVID-19 pandemic, in 5 accordance with the applicable Government circular. Upon awarding the aforesaid bonus marks, if the petitioner is otherwise eligible and secures the requisite merit for the selection process, her candidature shall be considered accordingly and she shall be permitted to participate in the further stages of the selection process. 10. At this juncture, learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the skill test and document verification are scheduled to be held tomorrow, i.e. 22.08.2026, and therefore, the petitioner may be permitted to participate in the said process. 11. In view of the directions issued hereinabove, the respondents shall permit the petitioner to participate in the skill test and document verification scheduled to be held on 22.08.2026, subject to her otherwise fulfilling the eligibility conditions prescribed for the said selection. 12. Accordingly, the writ petition is allowed in the aforesaid terms. 13. Certified copy today. Sd/- (Bibhu Datta Guru) JUDGE Jyoti