New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has questioned the “step-motherly treatment (of Rajasthan government) to Ayurvedic doctors” and has directed the state government to release salaries of the Ayurvedic and Naturopathic doctors who have not be paid salaries for the last 5 months, within one week.
Apex court was hearing a plea filed by Rajasthan government
This order by the court comes on a petition by Rajasthan government challenging the Rajasthan High Court verdict bringing to parity the age of retirement of AYUSH doctors and MBBS doctors in the state.
The Supreme Court said considering that there is no stay by the Supreme Court on the High Court order, the salaries of the AYUSH doctors must be released.
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Rajasthan government challenged High Court order
The Rajasthan Government had approached the Supreme Court challenging the High Court order that had in February by its judgment increased the retirement age of AYUSH doctors employed by the state government from 60 years to 62 years.
The High Court order came on a petition by AYUSH doctors in the state who had challenged a change in the Rajasthan Service Rules that increased the age of retirement of MBBS to 62 years leaving AYUSH doctors out. The decision of the Rajasthan government was based on the fact that there was shortage of allopathic doctors serving under the Rajasthan government. The AYUSH doctors in their petition claimed that the move by the state government was discriminatory.
What did High Court say?
The Rajasthan High Court judgment was based on an earlier judgement of the Supreme Court where it was held that in the matter of fixing age of superannuation, no discriminatory treatment can be meted out as between the allopathic doctors and ayurvedic doctors, as the doctors under both segments are performing the same function of treating and healing their patients, the classification is discriminatory and unreasonable.
Earlier in April, the Supreme Court, while dealing with the petition, had commented that Ayurvedic doctors were doing great job and contributing.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has adjourned hearing in the case and will re-hear the case in four weeks.
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