HC asks state to give allopathic, ayurvedic and dental doctors equal pay

NAINITAL: Uttarakhand high court, in a landmark order, directed the state government to pay equally to doctors working under National Rural Health Mission with different degrees be it allopathic, dental or ayurvedic medical degree holders. The order by division bench of justices Rajiv Sharma and Alok Singh dated April 3, 2018 stated, “In the instant case, the duties discharged by the petitioners viz-a-viz allopathic medical officers and dental medical officers are of equal sensitivity and quality, even the responsibility and reliability are the same.The classification made by the state government is irrational. The state/respondents are directed to pay and release the salary to the petitioners at par with allopathic medical officers and dental medical officers from the date when the same was paid to the allopathic and dental medical officers, within a period of three months from today with arrears.”The petitioners Sanjay Singh Chauhan and BHMS degree holder along with 101 other doctors with BAMS and BHMS degrees, ayurvedic and homeopathic medical officers were appointed in Rastriya Bal Swasthaya Karyakram (RBSK) run by the NRHM.Observing that the petitioners were discharging the same duties which are being discharged by the allopathic medical officers and dental medical officers and have obtained their degrees from recognized institutions, the court remarked that they have also taken four to five years course as allopathic and dental medical officers and it was for the patient to opt for any of the system.“There is no intelligible differentia so as to distinguish the ayurvedic and homeopathic medical officers viz-a-viz Allopathic and Dental Medical Officers. There is no rational why the similar situate persons have been discriminated against. The petitioners as well as Allopathic and Dental Medical Officers constitute homogenous class,” said the order by the division bench.Stating that “Homeopathy, Ayurved and Allopathy are different streams of Medicines, yet these have to be treated at par with each othe” the bench in the order remarked that the nature of degrees and duration of courses are almost the same.