Government doctors on Monday said they would continue their demand that the government withdraw its decision to do away with reservation in post-graduate degree courses for in-service doctors.
Ever since the government issued two orders last month announcing that it was doing away with reservation in admissions to post-graduate degree courses, government doctors began protesting. A few doctors approached the High Court for relief, but the court on Monday dismissed their plea while upholding the orders, which the government claims was done in accordance with the Medical Council of India’s guidelines.
Subsequent to the court order, Telangana Government Doctors Association’s wings at State-run hospitals continued to protest. At Gandhi Hospital doctors sat on hunger strike, which they said would be intensified.
“We expect more people to join us on Tuesday. But our protest will not disturb patient care. The protest is also underway to realise other demands from the government,” said G. Bhumesh Kumar of TGDA’s Gandhi wing.
‘A disadvantaged lot’
Doctors demanding reservation in remainder of seats left in the State pool, after half the total seats have been allocated to the national pool, have contended that in-service doctors are a disadvantaged lot in the fray. Their argument is, even with the system of weightage the government devised in lieu of reservation, in-service doctors cannot compete with fresh-out-of-college PG aspirants.
While the court upheld the State’s orders for admission to degree courses, 50% reservation for in-service aspirants in PG diploma seats, not under purview of the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test, has been allowed.
“Subject to minor changes, the court has upheld the government’s orders. These changes include reservation for diploma admission for in-service candidates, and the duration of deputation to those who have completed diploma,” said Kaloji Narayan Rao University of Health Sciences, Vice-Chancellor B. Karunkar Reddy. Dr. Reddy further said counselling for admission in adherence to the orders is underway, while government doctors maintain they continue contemplating options to get the government to relax its orders and to also appeal in the Supreme Court.
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