PG Doctors knock Telangana HC's doors; seek postponing exam

Hyderabad: Fearing the mass spread of coronavirus, Post graduate doctors have filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Telangana High Court seeking postponement of postgraduate exams and continuation of their services as senior residents.

Filed by Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association, the petitioners prayed for declaring notification issued by the second respondent (Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences, Warangal) as arbitrary and violation of Article 21 of the constitution of India.

The petitioners urged the court to direct the respondents to postpone the exam in the interest of life and health of doctors/ PG going students. “Until such time the exam are conducted, the respondents should be directed to utilize their services by continuing them as senior residents and pass such order or orders as are deemed fit and proper in the circumstances in the case”, they said.

The petitioners also prayed for suspension of the notification till the matter is adjudicated by the court. “Pending disposal of the writ petition, it is also prayed that the court in the interest of justice, may be pleased to suspend the notifications issued by the second respondent and pass such order or orders as this court may deem fit and proper in the circumstances in the case”, they said.

The petitioners said the lives of doctors and exam-going PG students cannot be jeopardized because coronavirus is on the increase in the GHMC area and Ranga Reddy district.

"There is no indication that coronavirus cases are going to decrease in its magnitude and amplitude and is going to loosen its deadly grip on the people. To force the doctors and PG students to take the examination in the present situation would be to play with their lives and their health,” they said.

Of the 1405 doctors/PG final year students set to take the examination, 663 are from colleges located within the GHMC area and Ranga Reddy district.

“A doctor’s life is although more precious in the pandemic situation and the state cannot afford to lose even a single medico to COVID 19. Therefore the state needs to protect every doctor. The state cannot be permitted to take any action which would jeopardize the health, life, and rights of the doctors,” they said.

The petitioners submitted that since most of the colleges have not opened the hostels and doctors will have to travel from their respective homes to the exam center every alternate day.

“Osmania Medical College hostel is presently a hotspot. Around 10 PG students including interns were infected on May 30. Other PGs are also infected. Many of the doctors and exam going PG have been exposed. Though screening was done and the results came negative, it is submitted that the incubation period for COVId 19 is 28 days,” they said.