logo
Two govt doctors approach Calcutta HC challenging 'arbitrary' postings

Two govt doctors approach Calcutta HC challenging 'arbitrary' postings

Hans India30-05-2025
Kolkata: The West Bengal government on Friday was embroiled in yet another legal battle over the alleged arbitrary postings of three senior resident doctors by the state Health Department, with two of them approaching the Calcutta High Court to challenge the order.
The petition filed by Debasish Halder and Asfaqulla Naiya has been admitted by the single-judge vacation bench of Justice Partha Sarathi Chatterjee. The tentative date of the first hearing in the matter is June 5.
It is not yet clear whether Aniket Mahato, the third senior resident to allegedly become a victim of arbitrary postings like Halder and Naiya, will later become a party in the same case or will file a separate petition in the matter.
All three of them were lead faces of the movement against the ghastly rape and murder of a junior woman doctor of state-R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata within the hospital premises in August last year.
While all three of them were given postings in far-off places, ignoring their first choice of postings during the counselling session on this issue, Halder was given a posting at a hospital that does not officially have any vacancy for senior residents currently.
What was more intriguing was that while a total of 778 junior doctors attended the counselling session for allotment of postings as senior residents, only Halder, Mahato, and Naiya were selectively denied their first choice of postings.
The West Bent Bengal Junior Doctor's Front (WBJDF), the umbrella body of junior doctors in the state spearheading movement against the R.G. Kar rape and murder tragedy, has announced that they would be behind Halder, Mahato, and Naiya in their legal battles against such arbitrary postings.
The three senior doctors have explained that their complaint is not about their posting at far-off places but against the total lack of transparency in the posting allotment process. They also claimed that besides seeking justice for the R.G. Kar rape & murder victim, their demand was also total transparency in the medical administration system in the state.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Cloud over MGNREGS restart in Bengal as Centre yet to clear labour budget
Cloud over MGNREGS restart in Bengal as Centre yet to clear labour budget

Indian Express

timean hour ago

  • Indian Express

Cloud over MGNREGS restart in Bengal as Centre yet to clear labour budget

THE RESUMPTION of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in West Bengal remains uncertain as the August 1 deadline set by the Calcutta High Court for restarting the scheme is over and the Centre is yet to clear the state's labour budget for the financial year 2025–2026, The Indian Express has learnt. According to sources, the West Bengal government had written to the Union Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) seeking approval to its labour budget, but the same has not been done so far. The labour budget is approved by the Empowered Committee headed by the Union Rural Development Secretary. States generate their demands for funds using NREGASoft, the management information system of the MGNREGS, only after this committee clears their labour budget proposals. Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Monday that the Central government is committed to the development of West Bengal and the welfare of its people. He alleged that the Mamata Banerjee government has 'failed miserably' in effectively implementing MGNREGS, but did not say anything about the resumption of the scheme in the state. 'From the year 2019 to 2022, Central teams visited 19 districts of West Bengal. During these visits, the Central teams found many anomalies and irregularities in the works of MNREGA in the state such as absence of work at the site, dividing the work into portions against the rules, misappropriation of funds… flouting rules and norms of MNREGA,' Chouhan said in a post on X. 'Due to these unethical actions of the state government, misuse of public money and lack of improvement in the system, the Ministry of Rural Development has stopped the release of funds of the state government under Section 27 of the MNREGA Act,' he said. Under the MNREGS, the MoRD releases funds to states 'based on agreed labour budget'. Generally, the states' labour budget proposals are approved by the MoRD by the end of January or before the beginning of the financial year (April-March). In West Bengal's case, no labour budget has been approved after FY 2021-22 after the Centre suspended the implementation of the scheme in the state. By invoking Section 27 of MGNREGA, 2005, the Centre had stopped release of funds to West Bengal with effect from March 9, 2022. In an order on June 18, 2025, the Calcutta High Court directed that the 'scheme be implemented prospectively with effect from August 1, 2025'. However, West Bengal officials say they have not received any intimation from the Centre about resumption of the scheme in the state. They have also been urging the ministry to approve of the labour budget but the same has not happened yet, said an official. The ministry officials have maintained silence so far on the issue of Bengal. Asked whether the MoRD challenged the June 18 order of the Calcutta HC, the officials did not respond. They also did not respond to queries on non-approval of Bengal's labour budget. According to sources, the Centre has not yet challenged the court order yet. On July 22, Union Minister Chouhan told the Lok Sabha that the High Court order is 'being studied in the ministry to decide further course of action'. In January this year, West Bengal's Rural Development Minister Pradip K Mazumdar wrote a letter to Chouhan, seeking an appointment for a meeting, which has not happened so far. Earlier, multiple meetings between the Centre and West Bengal government officials have taken place but the issue has not been resolved till date. Before the Centre suspended the MGNREGS in March 2022, West Bengal figured among the top performers with 51 lakh to 80 lakh families in the state availing of the scheme annually between 2014-15 and 2021-22. The data available on the NREGS portal shows that the number of households working through the rural job guarantee scheme stood at 51 lakh in 2014-15, 61 lakh in 2015-16, 58 lakh in 2016-17, 52 lakh in 2017-18, 43.89 lakh in 2018-19, 54.57 lakh in 2019-20, 79.64 lakh in 2020-21 and 75.97 lakh in 2021-22.

‘What's the difficulty in working on Sunday?': Calcutta HC to primary teachers opposing duties for SIR
‘What's the difficulty in working on Sunday?': Calcutta HC to primary teachers opposing duties for SIR

Indian Express

time15 hours ago

  • Indian Express

‘What's the difficulty in working on Sunday?': Calcutta HC to primary teachers opposing duties for SIR

The Calcutta High Court on Monday refused to interfere with the Election Commission's decision to appoint primary school teachers as Booth Level Officers (BLOs) for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. Justice Amrita Sinha, hearing the petition, observed that there is no legal bar on engaging primary teachers for BLO duties. In her order, she stated: 'The activities of the BLO are to be carried out in such a way that their teaching profession will not be hampered. As on this date, it cannot be ascertained as to the nature of work assigned to the concerned officer. The case has been filed under apprehension. Duties assigned to officers shall be strictly under the Comprehensive Instructions regarding BLOs as published by the EC in 2022.' The SIR, recently conducted in Bihar, was meant to remove names of deceased or missing voters. It is now scheduled to be conducted in all states, including West Bengal. A letter regarding the same has been sent to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer. However, the specific nature of BLO duties has not been finalised. Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Subir Sanyal submitted: 'A number of duties are assigned to me—full-fledged day-to-day work—whereas I am a primary teacher. As soon as the appointment letter was issued, I came under the EC. I am under deputation for revision of electoral rolls. No duty period has been mentioned. Where am I to work? How can I discharge dual duties? My teaching job is from 10 am to 4 pm. The Supreme Court says teachers have to be drafted minimally.' Counsel Soumya Majumdar, appearing for the Election Commission, countered: 'It has been done in consultation with the schools and in line with the SC order. This electoral revision procedure is done six months before the date of election is declared. All circumstances have been weighed before issuing appointment letters. They will be given training and then put to work. Of 48,000 drafted, only 15 have filed cases. It is their apprehension that they will be called. The BLO goes to the house and brings information.' To the petitioner's concern about working without a break, the bench remarked: 'The nation requires your service, what can be done? Why is it not possible to work on Sundays? Are you afraid that all the work will be given to you?' A case had been filed last week in the Calcutta High Court alleging that primary teachers are being forced to perform BLO duties in violation of norms. Teachers claim that this additional responsibility is interfering with their teaching work and overburdening them.

Uncertainty looms over the resumption of NREGS in Bengal as the Centre is yet to clear the labour budget
Uncertainty looms over the resumption of NREGS in Bengal as the Centre is yet to clear the labour budget

Indian Express

time2 days ago

  • Indian Express

Uncertainty looms over the resumption of NREGS in Bengal as the Centre is yet to clear the labour budget

With the August 1 deadline set by the Calcutta High Court for restarting Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MG-NREGS) in West Bengal already passed, the job program's resumption remains uncertain as the Centre is yet to clear the state's labour budget for financial year 2025–26, The Indian Express has learnt. According to sources, the West Bengal government had written to the Union Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), seeking approval to its labour budget. However, the same has not been done so far, said a source. The labour budget refers to anticipated demand for unskilled manual work for execution of a shelf of work identified to be taken up during a financial year. The labour budget is approved by the Empowered Committee headed by the Union Rural Development Secretary. The states can generate their demands for funds using NREGASoft, the Management Information System (MIS) of the MG-NREGS, only after this committee clears their labour budget proposals. Under the NREGS, the MoRD releases funds to states 'based on agreed labour budget'. Generally, the states' labour budget proposals are approved by the MoRD by the end of January before the beginning of each financial year (April-March). In Bengal's case, no labour budget has been approved post financial year 2021-22 after the Centre suspended implementation of the scheme in the state. By invoking Section 27 of the MGNREGA, 2005, the Centre had stopped release of funds to West Bengal with effect from March 9, 2022, 'due to non-compliance of directives of Central Government'. Since then, no work under the NREGS has taken place in the state. In an order on 18th June 2025, the Calcutta High Court had directed that the 'scheme be implemented prospectively with effect from 1st August 2025'. However, the West Bengal officials say that they have not received any intimation from the Centre about resumption of the scheme in the state. They have also been urging the MoRD for approval of the labour budget but the same has not happened either, said an official. The MoRD officials have kept mum so far on the issue of Bengal. When asked whether the ministry has challenged the June 18 Calcutta High Court order, the concerned officials at the MoRD did not respond. However, sources say that the Centre has not yet challenged the order. On July 22, Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had told Lok Sabha that the order of the High Court is 'being studied in the Ministry to decide further course of action'. In January this year, West Bengal's Rural Development Minister Pradip K Mazumdar wrote a letter to Chouhan, seeking an appointment for a meeting, which has not happened so far. Earlier, multiple meetings between the Centre and West Bengal government officials have taken place but the issue has not been resolved till date. Before the Centre suspended the MG-NREGS in March 2022, West Bengal figured among the top performers with 51-80 lakh families in the state availing the scheme annually between 2014-15 and 2021-22. The data available on the NREGS portal shows that the number of households working through the rural job guarantee scheme stood at 51 lakh in 2014-15, 61 lakh in 2015-16, 58 lakh in 2016-17, 52 lakh in 2017-18, 43.89 lakh in 2018-19, 54.57 lakh in 2019-20, 79.64 lakh in 2020-21, and 75.97 lakh in 2021-22. Harikishan Sharma, Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express' National Bureau, specializes in reporting on governance, policy, and data. He covers the Prime Minister's Office and pivotal central ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers' Welfare, Ministry of Cooperation, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Ministry of Rural Development, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. His work primarily revolves around reporting and policy analysis. In addition to this, he authors a weekly column titled "STATE-ISTICALLY SPEAKING," which is prominently featured on The Indian Express website. In this column, he immerses readers in narratives deeply rooted in socio-economic, political, and electoral data, providing insightful perspectives on these critical aspects of governance and society. ... Read More

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store