HC raps state over service norms

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 15

Raping the state government for self-contradictory stand in a service matter, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has described as “inexplicable” its action of treating a lecturer as a medical officer for retiring him at 58. The Bench also directed the Chief Secretary to intervene.

A lecturer, with retirement age of 60, is governed by Punjab Medical Education Rules, while medical officer is considered an employee under Punjab Directorate of Health and Family Welfare.

Taking up the petition filed against the state by Dr Vipin Kumar, Justice Rajan Gupta asserted that the petitioner was admittedly appointed lecturer in Amritsar Government Medical College and was, as such, governed by Punjab Medical Education Rules, 1979.

“It remains a matter of concern as to how the petitioner can be treated to be an employee under the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab,” Justice Gupta asserted.

Dr Kumar had moved the court through counsels Vikas Chatrath and Vivek Salathia for quashing a communication dated August 13, last year, by the virtue of which he was to superannuate at the age of 58.

Allowing the plea, Justice Gupta asserted: “The matter is remitted to the Chief Secretary to constitute a committee to take a fresh decision within six weeks”.