Bombay High Court Provides Relief to Doctors Resigning from JJ Hospital

Background of the Case

In a significant decision, the Bombay High Court vacation bench granted relief to two young doctors who had resigned from the Maharashtra government-run JJ Hospital. The court issued directives on Tuesday for the return of their original documents without requiring the payment of a Rs 20 lakh bond deposit.

Reasons for Resignation

The doctors, who had joined JJ Hospital as junior doctors to pursue an MCh Neurosurgery course between June and August, cited “unsanitary” living conditions at the hostel and issues related to sleep deprivation as their reasons for resigning. They filed a plea with the court requesting the return of their documents, which they needed for the upcoming National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) scheduled for December 26-27.

Details of the Petition

According to a report by the Times of India, the petitioners, Swapnil Kopale from Navi Mumbai and Pooja Modanwal from Lucknow, expressed their grievances regarding the non-return of their original documents. They were also compelled by the State to deposit a Rs 20 lakh bond. Advocate Aditya Sanghi, representing the doctors, highlighted their qualifications, stating that they were admitted to Sir JJ Hospital in 2025 and had been allotted a super-specialty seat in Neurosurgery at Grant Medical College.

Conditions of the Hostel

The counsel further elaborated on the “deplorable” conditions of the hostel, where five students were forced to share a single room, and there was a lack of privacy for female residents. Due to these circumstances, the doctors resigned on November 17, 2025, and sought the return of their original documents to facilitate their participation in the NEET Super Specialty exam for admission to other institutions.

College’s Position on Bond and Penalties

In response, the college, represented by Additional Government Pleader, referred to the rules regarding penalties and bonds for not completing the junior residency tenure. The argument presented claimed that the doctors were obligated to pay the Rs 20 lakh bond for any lapse in their admission or cancellation of seats after the cut-off date. The college maintained that the original documents would only be released upon payment of this penalty, which would be non-refundable.

Urgency of Document Return

Dr. Modanwal emphasized the urgency of retrieving their documents for the NEET SS exam on December 26-27. She noted that she had successfully cleared the entrance exam for the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and could secure admission only by submitting all original documents by December 31, 2025.

Outcome of the Hearing

After reviewing the case, the Bombay High Court bench granted relief to the junior doctors by ordering the immediate return of their original documents without the necessity of paying the bond deposit. Following this ruling, Dr. Modanwal’s lawyer confirmed that the court’s decision allows her to secure her admission at AIIMS.