Those who had not complied with the apex court's direction would not be paid for the strike period.
Those who had not complied with the apex court's direction would not be paid for the strike period.
NEW DELHI: Doctors who resumed work on June 30 after 16 days of ant-quota strike would not suffer pay cut. But those who reported fr work later would come under the Centre's policy of 'no-work, no- pay'. Bench of Justices Arijit Pasayat and L S Panta clarified that medicos will get salary for the period they were on strike, if they had complied with the apex court's direction to resume work in larger public interest.
Doctors who had joined after May 30 would not be given salaries for the period they were on strike. "As a matter of law, we don't approve of doctors going on strike. Normally, the principle of 'no work, no pay' would have been applied", but it was the Centre's assurance that no punitive action would be taken against them if they resumed duties.
The Centre had backed out and denied salary to the doctors who started attending OPDs and treating patients.
The Bench then reminded the Centre of its undertaking and castigated it for refusing to pay salaries to the doctors who had heeded to the apex court's call. "So you pay the salaries," judges told the government. Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium said that the departure from the 'no work, no pay' principle should not be a precedent. Judges said the court was not making any departure. On July 5, judges had expected the government to act like a "model employer".
Medicos rejoice after verdict
"Our cause has been proven right. We stand vindicated," was the reaction of the doctors on Monday, when the Supreme Court ruled in their favour. The Court has directed the Centre to pay salaries till May 30 though the doctors joined on June 1. So, the doctors lose one day's pay. However, they have a unique solution for that as well.
"We have decided to pledge that one day's salary to Ramadoss and his family," said Dr Shashank from Maulana Azad Medical College. There were also demands for the health minister's resignation. "He (Ramadoss) should resign on moral grounds and the Cabinet should recommend it," said Dr Vinod Patro from AIIMS. The Resident Doctors Association (RDA) of MAMC and AIIMS were the joint petitioners in court for the salary issue. Doctors had boycotted work for almost 17 days since May 13, protesting the government proposal to introduce 27.5 per cent reservation for OBCs in elite educational institutes. --- Ginnie Mahajan
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}