Chhattisgarh High Court Directs Swift Resolution for Delayed MBBS Degree Issuance

In a recent development, the Chhattisgarh High Court has issued a directive to Pt. Deendayal Upadhayay Memorial, Health Science, and Ayush University to expedite the decision-making process within four weeks regarding a representation filed by a petitioner. The petitioner, Avinash Deshlahara, approached the court with a grievance stating that despite passing the final year examination and completing the internship, his MBBS degree has not been issued.

The bench of Justice Rakesh Mohan Pandey, in its order, granted Deshlahara the liberty to approach the university by submitting a suitable representation for the issuance of the degree. The court expects that upon receiving such representation, Ayush University will make a decision strictly in accordance with the law and in an objective manner within a period of four weeks from the date of receiving a copy of the court order.

Avinash Deshlahara’s counsel, Ashutosh Mishra, informed the court that the petitioner had been allowed by Ayush University to participate in the MBBS examination. Subsequently, Deshlahara successfully passed the exam and completed the internship, but there has been a delay in conferring the degree. The petitioner sought a court direction to Ayush University for the prompt issuance of the degree.

This is not the first time Avinash Deshlahara has sought relief from the High Court. In September 2020, the court granted interim relief allowing Deshlahara to take the final examination scheduled for that year, subject to meeting the requisite eligibility criteria.

Deshlahara had faced challenges in completing his exams due to unavoidable circumstances after attempting the final year part one exam in 2015. His attempts to complete the degree and appear for exams in February 2020 led to interactions with the concerned authorities since October 2019.

The historical context reveals that when Deshlahra enrolled in the MBBS course at CIMS, Bilaspur, the institute was under Guru Ghasidas University (GGU). Subsequently, Ayush University took over the institute. Both GGU and Ayush University issued no objection certificates allowing Deshlahra to appear for the final year exam. However, a dispute arose over which university should issue the degree, with Ayush University contending that since the petitioner’s enrolment still continued with GGU, the degree should be issued from there.

The Chhattisgarh High Court emphasized that the only dispute at hand pertains to the agency or university responsible for issuing the degree, a matter that can be resolved at a later stage.