HC rejects plea by doctors seeking rural service exemption
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Dr Jolly Sinha and Dr Avinash Kumar, in their petition, said they had filed a bond at the time of taking admission in a super speciality course (MCH) in neurosurgery that they would give service in a rural area for a year or else pay a penalty of Rs 10 lakh.
They should have been issued an appointment letter for service in a rural area within three months after completing the course. After a lapse of one year since they finished the course, they have not received the appointment.
Therefore, they said, the bond has lost its validity.
During arguments, a division bench of justices Atul Sreedharan and Amit Seth was informed by the state govt that the clause mandating appointment within three months had been amended, and the time limit removed.
The petitioners also admitted that they were covered under the amended rule following which the petition was dismissed by the high court.
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