Saxena approves extension of contracts for 962 nursing staff

NEW DELHI: Lieutenant governor VK Saxena has approved the proposal to extend the services of 962 nursing staff employed in various state-run hospitals on a contractual basis for one year.
Approving the proposal, the LG, however, directed the health and family welfare department and the Delhi Subordinate Services Selection Board (DSSSB) to notify the vacant posts against which these contractual employees were hired and conduct an exam for regular appointments within a specific timeframe.He has also asked the health department to provide an action taken report in this matter within three months.
The extension of services of contractual nursing employees has come into effect from July 1, 2023.
The LG had earlier this year approved the extension of services of 777 contractual paramedical employees and 476 part-time vocational teachers in Delhi government's health and family welfare and education departments, respectively.
Officials from the LG secretariat said extensions for contractual appointments were granted to these employees against regular sanctioned posts from time-to-time.
"The proposal for the last extension of one year with effect from July 1, 2022 was approved by the LG last year with the rider that the health department would fill these regular positions with permanent employees selected through due process, but it was never done," said an official.
"The current approval has been given in light of the emergent nature of the work performed by these contractual nurses," the official added.
Officials said the Delhi High Court had directed the health and family welfare department to frame a one-time regularisation policy with respect to these employees. The policy was framed in October 2020 to allow contractual employees to apply once for open recruitment through DSSSB without any age bar.