Jaipur : The Supreme Court on Friday directed the Rajasthan government to release within a week the pending salaries of those retired government AYUSH doctors who were reinstated after the High Court decision. The court asked why AYUSH doctors were given “step-motherly” treatment.
The government had reached the Supreme Court against the High Court’s decision.
Earlier, the state government had approached the Supreme Court to challenge the High Court’s decision. The government had said in its appeal that the retirement age of allopathic doctors and doctors associated with alternative systems of medicine cannot be different.
Retirement age was increased in 2016
Keeping in mind the shortage of allopathic doctors, the Rajasthan government had increased their retirement age from 60 to 62 years with effect from March 31, 2016, due to which the government is turning to AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) doctors. Petitions were filed from.
High Court extended the tenure of AYUSH doctors
But the retirement age of AYUSH doctors appointed by the government remained only 60 years. Rajasthan High Court had said in its decision that the retirement age should be the same for all government doctors in the state. Considering the complaints of AYUSH doctors, the High Court had said that if they retired after March 31, 2016, they would be considered in service till the age of 62 years.
5 months delay in salary payment
Chief Justice D.Y. A bench headed by Chandrachud on Friday considered the state government’s appeals against the High Court’s decision. The bench expressed its displeasure when the counsel for the AYUSH doctors said that though they have been reinstated in service, there has been a delay of five months in the payment of their salaries.
The court asked – why step-motherly treatment of Ayurveda?
The Chief Justice said, “They are all working as doctors. Why this step-motherly treatment with Ayurveda…why did you not release the salaries?” The bench asked the government to release the salaries within a week. The bench asked the counsel to discuss matters arising out of the issue related to the retirement age of doctors in the state. Asked to prepare a chart of.
The High Court had ordered, “Those who have retired on reaching the age of 60 years but have not completed the age of 62 years, be immediately reinstated in service.” The Supreme Court on July 19 It had agreed to consider the appeal of the Rajasthan government challenging the decision that the retirement age of allopathic practitioners and those practicing alternative systems of medicine cannot be different. It had issued a notice to AYUSH doctors on the appeal of the state government. The Supreme Court had also accepted the Solicitor General’s request not to take any coercive action against the officers facing contempt in the High Court.
