Kerala doctors move High Court over no pay

Kochi: A group of 18 junior doctors working on special duty to contain the Covid-19 pandemic in Kerala has moved the High Court seeking directions to the state government to immediately disburse their salaries along with arrears.

The petition, filed by TS Krishna Priya and others, also sought a direction to ensure service conditions such as designation, salary, duty time, off day/ quarantine, leave, and holidays as granted to other doctors in the service of the state government forthwith.

According to the petition, even though the government has fixed a pay of Rs 42,000 to the junior doctors, not a paisa has been disbursed to them till date and they are rendering their duty by spending money from their own pockets.

"The illegality and discrimination that are being faced by the petitioners are not merely limited to the payment of remuneration. The consolidated payment fixed by the government is no way in par with what the similarly footed persons receive under the National Health Mission, National Rural Health Mission, and state service," the plea filed on Wednesday said.