The Delhi High Court has upheld the cancellation of an FNB Cardiac Electrophysiology candidature after finding that the candidate did not possess the prescribed DrNB Cardiology qualification by the eligibility cut-off date of December 31, 2024. The candidate, an MD (Medicine) graduate, had pursued DrNB Cardiology as part of the 2021–2024 batch and appeared for the DrNB final examination only in the January 2025 session. Her provisional pass certificate was issued on May 29, 2025.

The court held that eligibility for a competitive examination is determined with reference to the specific cut-off date prescribed by the competent authority. Since the candidate had not even appeared for the DrNB final examination by December 31, 2024, the subsequent qualification could not retrospectively satisfy the eligibility requirement. The court also considered the expression “likely to be in…