Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has asked the Chandigarh administration the outcome of allotment of alternative residential accommodation to the staff nurses working in Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32.
The tribunal had asked the administration to explore the possibility to allot alternate accommodation for the nurses near the hospital. As many as 103 staff nurses working at the Sector-32 hospital had filed a petition in Central Administrative Tribunal, challenging the order dated January 14, 2016, whereby they were asked to vacate the residential accommodation given to them in hospital’s hostel.
The GMCH had issued the notice regarding vacation of hostel accommodation to all the nurses as Medical Council of India has raised objection regarding inadequate hostel accommodation for under graduate and post graduate students.
The UT nodal officer for CAT, Arvind Moudgil, on August 22, informed the court that despite offer of talks by the department, the Nurses Association has not shown any inclination for the same.
He added that the MCI had pointed out in its communication dated November 2, 2015 that the available accommodation for students is merely 192, as against the requirement of 300.
{{/usCountry}}He added that the MCI had pointed out in its communication dated November 2, 2015 that the available accommodation for students is merely 192, as against the requirement of 300.
{{/usCountry}}He added that the nurses were given hostel accommodation which was meant for MBBS students because they were vacant and the permissible limit of hostel accommodation to nurses was 42 rooms.
It was contended that the staff nurses were drawing house rental allowance (HRA) and thus there should be no difficulty for them to take up alternative accommodation.
‘NON-COMPLIANCE MAY RESULT IN DISAPPROVAL OF INCREASED COURSE SEATS’
The Medical Council of India in its January 2016 letter, addressed to the principal director, GMCH, Sector 32, had intimated that in case its objections as pointed out in its earlier December 2015 letter on hostel accommodation is not complied with, it will recommend to the Central government for disapproval of the scheme regarding admission to fourth batch of MBBS students whereby seats had been increased from 50 to 100 for the academic year 2016-17.
The nurses had said that as per the offer appointment, hostel accommodation is mandatory for staff nurses and these conditions cannot be amended by the administration.
Moreover, that in case of emergency or in critical situation, it is in the interest of patient care that the nurses be allotted accommodation within the premises.
It was also stated that the present hostel where the staff nurses are staying is meant for them as per the original plan.
Dr Atul Sachdev, director principal of the college, said to HT, “We are in talks with few organisations and are exploring residential accommodations for staff nurses.”