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Journalism of Courage
As IF the BJP’s wipeout in the state was not enough, the Jharkhand High Court has quashed the Arjun Munda government’s appointment of 2,146 medical staff in the state. The stumbling block — a clause of the rules governing medical services in Bihar which remain in effect in the state till date.
The HC told the state government yesterday there was no way it could appoint medical staff on contracts without ‘‘appropriately amending’’ Rule 14 of the Bihar Medical Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1930.
The rule in question categorises medical services as state cadre and as such, the posts can’t be filled up by appointing staff at district level. The Munda government will, therefore, have to move Supreme Court to seek a directive on the appointments. ‘‘We are not gratified by the court’s verdict. Very soon, we will move the apex court,’’ said advocate-general A.K. Sinha. The HC has quashed the state government’s notifications but allowed it to utilise the medical staff till ‘‘regular’’ appointments are made.
On the third anniversary of the state’s formation last year, Chief Minister Arjun Munda had boasted that he would give jobs to 1,234 doctors and 912 nurses and pharmacists. This was in the presence of BJP chief Venkaiah Naidu.
