Doctors’ Body Seeks Immediate Release of Maternity Pay to J&K Resident Doctors
Jammu, Aug 11: The Indian Medical Association Junior Doctors Network (IMA JDN) J&K has urged the Health and Medical Education Department and Government Medical Colleges to immediately release pending salaries and allowances of resident doctors who availed maternity leave.
The association said it has repeatedly raised the issue with senior authorities and has now sought the intervention of Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo, stressing that eligible resident doctors should not face financial hardship for exercising their maternity leave entitlement.
Dr Mohammad Momin Khan, Co-Convenor of IMA JDN J&K, said the organisation had been following up on the matter with the authorities and that a recent Jammu and Kashmir High Court judgment had addressed the issue of withholding pay during maternity leave.
Dr Khan also questioned the continued withholding or delay in payment at some Government Medical Colleges despite the court’s directions.
IMA JDN J&K Convenor Dr Rakesh Koul and General Secretary Dr Burhan Ali supported the demand and urged the authorities to ensure uniform implementation of the court’s directions across all Government Medical Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir.
The association said resident doctors who are eligible for maternity leave should receive their pending salary and allowances without further delay and should not face any professional disadvantage for availing the leave.
The issue stems from a Jammu and Kashmir High Court judgment in the case of Dr Sonakshi Gupta and others. The court set aside the denial of pay and allowances to resident doctors during maternity leave and held that treating doctors as being “out of assignment” during maternity leave, resulting in withholding of financial benefits, amounted to penalising them for motherhood.
IMA JDN J&K has called for immediate implementation of the judgment and a uniform policy across Government Medical Colleges in the Union Territory.
“Court orders must be implemented. Justice cannot remain on paper,” Dr Mohammad Momin Khan said.
