Archana Chouhan Pundir vs State Of M.P.& Ors

The Supreme Court held that the appellant, who was regularized as an Assistant Surgeon under the Madhya Pradesh Regularisation of Public Health and Family Welfare Medical Cadre Contract Appointment Rules, 2005, was eligible to appear in the Pre-P.G. Examination under the Madhya Pradesh Medical and Dental Post-Graduate Course Entrance Examination Rules, 2007. The Court found that the delay in regularization did not affect her eligibility as an 'in-service candidate' since she had been allowed to participate in the examination and counselling. The Court upheld the High Court's interim order allowing her admission, emphasizing the importance of timely regularization in public service appointments under Article 14 of the Constitution.