HC stays posting nurses from private schools in gov hospitals

Chennai, June 20 (UNI) Madras High Court today stayed a single judge's order directing the state Health Secretary and Director of Medical Services to consider candidates who had trained in private nursing institutes for appointment as staff nurses in government hospitals on par with candidates who did their nursing courses in government-run institutions.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Justice D Murugesan stayed the April 27 order while admitting an appeal filed by M Elumalai from Kancheepuram District and three others, who sought to quash the order.

Passing interim orders, the bench said any appointment to the post of nurses/midwives in government hospitals and primary health centres would now be subject to the outcome of the appeal.

Elumalai and others said those trained in private nursing institutions were not eligible to be appointed in government hospitals. There were about, 2000 candidates trained in government institutions who had been waiting for four years for jobs.

Under the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Medical Code, the government was bound to provide employment to trainees of government nursing institutions at least for three years.

There was no such provision for private candidates. Admission of students in government nursing institutions and their appointment to government hospitals was the composite scheme of recruitment, the petitioner said.

UNI XR AA LR KN1912