Doctor Who Fought 8 Years for Children’s Lives Now Hit with Legal Notice
Hyderabad paediatrician Dr. Sivaranjani Santosh, who advocated for clearer ORS labelling, receives legal notice from companies linked to Kenvue and Johnson & Johnson.
The Cruel Twist in the Results
Back in October 2025, this dedicated student sat for his MD exams under Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS). The setup included four theory papers, along with practicals and viva. When results came out in November, he had cleared three papers comfortably but Paper-I (covering Basic Sciences and Applied Anatomy) came up short at 39 marks, when 40 was needed to pass.One single mark, That’s all that separated success from setback.
Instead of letting him retake just the failed part, the university’s policy kicked in: fail one component and you redo everything all four theory papers. No exceptions, no partial relief. Imagine the frustration months of hard work validated in three subjects, yet wiped out because of one borderline failure.
To make matters worse, when the student got court permission to check his answer script, he discovered something alarming: one entire question (Question No. 6) hadn’t been marked at all. Zero points awarded, with no comments or ticks from the examiner. Was this an oversight? A clerical error? Either way, it fueled his case that the evaluation itself might be flawed.
Heading to Court: Challenging the Harsh Rule
Not willing to accept this, the student named Salman Mahmood in some reports filed a writ petition in the Telangana High Court. His main point? The university’s “reappear for all” demand is unfair and doesn’t align with national guidelines.
He referenced the National Medical Commission (NMC) Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023, which state clearly: if a candidate fails in one “head” (like a specific paper or component), they only need to retake the theory, practical, and viva for that head alone not repeat the entire exam.
He’s perfectly fine with redoing Paper-I fully, but why force him to sit through papers he already passed? It’s like being asked to restart a marathon because you tripped near the finish line in one small section.
The case came before Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka, who heard the arguments and asked the university and other parties to respond with their instructions. As of mid-March 2026, the hearing is ongoing no final decision yet, but the court is actively looking into it.
Why This Story Resonates So Deeply
This isn’t just about one person, it’s a snapshot of bigger challenges in Indian medical training. Passing thresholds are strict (often 50% per paper or aggregate), grace marks are almost mythical, and re-evaluations can be a long, uncertain process. For PG students, these rules mean lost time, delayed specializations, extra costs, and intense mental strain.
We’ve seen similar one mark tragedies before like the recent MBBS case in the same university where a student failed Anatomy by one mark and got court permission to seek retotalling through the grievance panel. These incidents keep happening, and they spark the same question: Do such rigid policies produce better doctors, or do they just crush motivation and waste potential?
The NMC’s updated rules are meant to bring more balance and fairness, but when local universities stick to older, harsher interpretations, students end up in court. A favorable ruling here could push for nationwide changes better alignment with NMC standards, perhaps more leniency for marginal fails, or improved answer-sheet checking systems.
Looking Ahead: Fingers Crossed for Justice
This case is still unfolding, but it’s already shining a light on where the system needs compassion alongside rigor. One mark shouldn’t end a dream especially when questions about evaluation fairness are in play. I’ll keep watching for updates. In the meantime, keep studying smart, stay resilient, and remember: your hard work counts, even when the system feels stacked against you.
