The Orissa High Court has issued a stern warning to the Director of Medical Education and Training (DMET), Odisha, Dr. Santosh Kumar Mishra, demanding compliance with its earlier directive within seven days. Failure to do so could result in contempt proceedings, the court said on Friday.
Justice Aditya Kumar Mohapatra, who presided over the matter, made it clear that the DMET must follow the court’s order issued on March 20, 2025, which required the processing of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for Dr. Smruti Snigdha Sahoo, a government doctor seeking to pursue a one-year Musculoskeletal Radiology fellowship at Ganga Hospital, Coimbatore, beginning April 1.
Despite the directive to act within 10 days, the DMET failed to issue the required certificate, prompting Sahoo to return to court with a fresh petition. Taking serious note of the non-compliance, the court stated:
“Dr. Santosh Kumar Mishra is directed to comply with the order within seven days, failing which he shall personally appear before this court and explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him.”
Background of the Case
Dr. Sahoo, a senior resident at the SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, was selected for the prestigious fellowship on March 10. After submitting her application for an NOC, she received no response or explanation from the DMET, leading her to seek legal intervention.
Although the High Court had initially ruled in her favour, the inaction by the authorities threatened her chance to join the fellowship program, which is scheduled to begin this month.
The latest order now places a deadline on the DMET to act promptly or face legal consequences for contempt of court.
