The Rajasthan High Court on Wednesday came down heavily on the State’s Medical and Health Department for repeatedly failing to comply with its directions in a case filed by M.R. College of Physiotherapy.
Hearing the matter, Justice Sanjeet Purohit expressed strong displeasure over what he termed as “willful and deliberate non-compliance” of court orders and directed the Principal Secretary of the department to personally appear before the court.
The order was passed in S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 17817/2024 (Order dated 18/02/2026) .
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Background of the Case
M.R. College of Physiotherapy had approached the High Court against the State of Rajasthan. The grievance centered around the inspection report of the college and the delay in granting a No Objection Certificate (NOC), which is an official approval required for institutional functioning.
Counsel for the petitioner, Ms. Shaambhavi Bhansali Mardia, submitted that despite repeated directions from the court, the respondents had not placed the inspection report on record.
The court noted that as early as November 26, 2024, the Additional Advocate General, Mr. N.S. Rajpurohit, had been directed to submit the inspection report. Nearly a year later, on November 20, 2025, the court again ordered compliance and listed the matter for December 2, 2025.
Even on December 6, 2025, there was no compliance. The court had then granted what it described as a “last opportunity” to the State.
Repeated Delay Despite Warnings
When the matter came up again on February 18, 2026, the inspection report was still not filed.
Appearing for the State, Additional Advocate General Mr. Rajpurohit submitted that several communications had been sent to the concerned authorities regarding the court’s earlier orders. However, he sought further time to comply.
The bench was not convinced.
Justice Purohit observed that the conduct of the respondent department “clearly amounts to willful and deliberate non-compliance” of court orders. The judge further remarked that this behavior reflected “absolute disregard and disrespect” towards the directions issued by the court.
The court also noted that this was not an isolated incident. In several similar matters, where inspection reports of institutions were required to be placed on record, the department had failed to do so.
“This indicates flaws, non-transparency, and lack of accountability on the part of the Respondent Department,” the court recorded.
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Court’s Observation on Accountability
The tone of the order made it clear that the court viewed the delay seriously. The repeated failure to comply, even after specific and time-bound directions, weighed heavily with the bench.
The judge underlined that when a court issues directions, they are expected to be followed within a reasonable time. Seeking repeated adjournments without compliance cannot be treated casually.
By calling out the pattern of non-compliance in other matters as well, the court signaled a broader concern over administrative functioning within the department.
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The Court’s Decision
Taking note of the “aforesaid state of affairs,” the High Court directed the Principal Secretary, Medical & Health Department, to remain present before the court on February 25, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., either personally or through video conferencing.
The court further ordered that the Principal Secretary must file a personal affidavit on or before that date. The affidavit must explain:
- The reasons for the delay in complying with the court’s earlier orders.
- The reasons for not granting the NOC to the petitioner college in a timely manner.
With these directions, the matter now stands posted for February 25, 2026.
Case Title: M.R. College of Physiotherapy vs State of Rajasthan
Case No.: S.B. Civil Writ Petition No. 17817/2024
Decision Date: 18 February 2026
