A group of 20 doctors recently approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court after being denied government jobs due to an alleged clerical delay by the Government Medical College, Amritsar.The dispute stems from an April 2025 recruitment drive for 1,000 medical officer (general) positions launched by the Punjab Department of Health and Family Welfare, wherein selection was based on the merit of a written examination conducted by Baba Farid University of Health Sciences.The 20 petitioners cleared the examination. However, when the final selection list was released on September 1, 2025, only 322 candidates were granted joining letters, leaving the petitioners excluded while individuals with lower merit scores were selected over them.The reason for their exclusion was a technical delay in getting registered with the Punjab Medical Council (PMC), which was allegedly caused by clerical backlogs at Government Medical College, Amritsar.The petitioner doctors have argued that they had completed all their mandatory clinical requirements, including their year-long internships and ACLS/BLS training, by mid-April 2025 – well before the recruitment deadline. They added that the subsequent weeks-long delay in physically printing and issuing the Internship Completion Certificates (ICC) and PMC paperwork was an alleged internal administrative failure of the medical college.These petitioners got their PMC registration on July 1, 2025, after the deadline for it fixed by the state had expired on June 22, 2025.The petition argues that the alleged institutional fault of the respondents cannot be fastened onto the candidates, making their disqualification a violation of their Right to Equality under Article 14 of the Constitution.Story continues below this adAlso, it mentions that the health department had previously published a ‘deficiency list’ on August 26, 2025, to warn candidates with missing paperwork, yet the petitioners’ names were not on it.Also Read | Punjab and Haryana High Court grants bail to minor accused of ‘Babbar Khalsa links’When contacted, Rajiv Devgan, Director Principal, Government Medical College (GMC), Amritsar, claimed that he didn’t have information about the issue.“We will verify and try to solve it,” he added.Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on InstagramTags:Punjab and Haryana High Court