Rajasthan HC Rules: BDS Degree Not Equivalent to MBBS for Food Safety Officer Post
Court Upholds RPSC’s Rejection of Candidate’s Candidature
Judgment Reinforces Expert Committee’s Stand on Eligibility Criteria
By Our Legal Correspondent
New Delhi: February 16, 2026:
In a significant judgment, the Rajasthan High Court has ruled that a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree cannot be treated as equivalent to a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degree for recruitment to the post of Food Safety Officer (FSO). The ruling, delivered by Justice Anand Sharma on February 13, 2026, dismissed a petition filed by an aspirant who challenged the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) decision to reject his candidature.
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The court emphasized that the issue of equivalence had already been examined by an expert committee, which concluded that BDS does not qualify as a “degree in medicine” for the purposes of the post.
Case Background
- The Candidate: Arvind Kumar Gupta, a BDS graduate, applied for the post of Food Safety Officer advertised by RPSC.
- Rejection: His application was rejected on the grounds that the eligibility criteria required a degree in medicine, not dentistry.
- Petition: Gupta filed a writ petition before the Rajasthan High Court, arguing that BDS should be considered equivalent to MBBS.
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Court’s Observations
Justice Sharma made several important points in the ruling:
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- Expert Committee Findings: The committee had already clarified that BDS is not equivalent to MBBS for the post in question.
- Judicial Limits: The court stated it cannot interfere with or revise eligibility criteria prescribed by the recruiting authority.
- Final Decision: The petition was dismissed, and RPSC’s rejection was upheld.
The court stressed that recruitment rules are framed by competent authorities and cannot be altered by judicial intervention unless they violate constitutional principles.
Legal Significance
This ruling has wide implications for recruitment processes in India:
- Clarity in Eligibility: Reinforces that only MBBS degrees qualify as “medicine” for posts like Food Safety Officer.
- Judicial Restraint: Courts will not override expert committee recommendations or recruitment rules.
- Precedent Value: Strengthens earlier judgments that distinguish between dental and medical degrees in professional eligibility.
Reactions
- Medical Community: Doctors welcomed the ruling, noting that MBBS and BDS have distinct scopes of practice.
- Dental Graduates: Some expressed disappointment, arguing that their training also involves public health and preventive care.
- Legal Experts: Lawyers highlighted that the judgment underscores the importance of respecting recruitment authorities’ discretion.
Broader Context
The case reflects ongoing debates about professional equivalence in India’s healthcare sector:
- MBBS vs. BDS: While both are medical sciences, MBBS covers general medicine and surgery, whereas BDS focuses on dental health.
- Recruitment Rules: Posts like Food Safety Officer often require expertise in general medicine, making MBBS the preferred qualification.
- Policy Implications: The ruling may prompt authorities to clarify eligibility criteria more explicitly in future advertisements.
Conclusion
The Rajasthan High Court’s ruling that BDS is not equivalent to MBBS for the Food Safety Officer post provides clarity on professional eligibility in government recruitment. By upholding expert committee findings and RPSC’s decision, the court reinforced judicial restraint in matters of recruitment policy.
For aspirants, the judgment is a reminder to carefully review eligibility criteria before applying. For policymakers, it highlights the need for clear definitions to avoid disputes over equivalence in professional qualifications.
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