Recently, in Ludhiana, an MS (Ortho) doctor was fined Rs. 50 lakhs for being absent from duty since 2018 and violating the bond clauses. He had deposited Rs. 30 lakhs in the account of a senior medical officer at CHC (Community Health Centre) and solicited time for the remaining amount.

Dr. Jasbir Singh Aulakh, a civil surgeon in Ludhiana, said that, in 2014, a government doctor who was working at a community health center in Mamdot went to pursue an MS in Orthopaedics course under the government quota. On July 7, 2017, the doctor at CHC, Dehlon, presented himself on duty after finishing his post-graduation course. An undertaking was given to the doctor that he would either complete his ten years of service in the health department or pay Rs. 50 lakhs in case the doctor left the job.

The concerned doctor has been absent from duty since March 12, 2018, without any reason. Dr. Jasbir had asked the doctor to rejoin duty, but he had not followed the directions. After that, the doctor was given a warning to either join the duty or deposit the bond amount.

As per the rules, if a government doctor pursues an MD or MS, he is directed to submit an undertaking to serve in the health department for ten years or pay a Rs. 50 lakh bond amount. However, the doctor violated the bond clause and asked to deposit the amount. So, he deposited Rs. 30 lakhs and requested time for the remaining amount. The Punjab Health Department said that the doctor had paid the amount of Rs. 30 lakhs.

The civil surgeon also says that this was the second case where the doctor had paid the bond amount after being absent from the job and not fulfilling the obligation. A doctor in Barnala also paid Rs. 25 lakhs for not fulfilling his obligation to the government after finishing MD/MS on the government quota.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Lavanya Beeraboina)