TO STRENGTHEN the health services in rural areas, the Allahabad High Court has ordered that if a doctor had not worked in any rural area, then he should be placed at a Community Health Centre (CHC)/Primary Health Centre (PHC), as the case may be, for a period of three years.
The court directed the State Government that this aspect shall always be taken into account while making transfers, postings or promotions. Passing this directive on April 24, a Division Bench comprising Justice VM Sahai and Justice BK Zaidi further said the new appointees shall be posted in PHCs/CHCs initially for a period of five years.
The court also said the doctors, who had completed 10 years in a district in their service career, were to be transferred outside the district at least 100 km away. “They will also not be transferred back to that district unless they complete five years’ tenure of service in any other district.’’ the court said.
Regarding promotions, the court said promotions would be made in specialized cadre, male or female on all levels by June 15, 2006.
Besides, the court said no senior doctor should be posted under a junior doctor. The court observed, “Anomaly of functioning of a senior doctor under a junior doctor, which gives frustration, should be removed’’. The court passed these directives on a bunch of writ petitions (no-72523 of 2005) filed by Dr Virendra Kumar Pal and others after hearing counsel for the petitioners and standing counsel JK Tiwari, who represented the State Government.
{{/usCountry}}Besides, the court said no senior doctor should be posted under a junior doctor. The court observed, “Anomaly of functioning of a senior doctor under a junior doctor, which gives frustration, should be removed’’. The court passed these directives on a bunch of writ petitions (no-72523 of 2005) filed by Dr Virendra Kumar Pal and others after hearing counsel for the petitioners and standing counsel JK Tiwari, who represented the State Government.
{{/usCountry}}While directing to list this case on July 11, the court directed principal secretary, Medical and Health and Director General, Medical Health Services, to file their affidavits of compliance of this order. The court warned that if they failed to do so, they shall be personally present in the court on the aforesaid date.
Elaborating the object behind these directives, the court observed, “During the course of hearing, we were informed by the counsel for the petitioners and the officers that long stay of doctors in one district promotes their private practice, which is prohibited by their service rules and such doctors do not punctually attend their duties. These orders as such are issued in the larger public interest’’.