Govt Doctor Denied Study leave for higher education, Calcutta HC Seeks Report From State

Kolkata: While considering a plea by a government doctor, who was allegedly denied study leave for higher studies, the Calcutta High Court recently sought a report from the West Bengal Government.

The plea was filed by Dr. Sirazul Islam, who is attached to a state-run hospital i.e. Maharaja Jitendra Narayan Medical College & Hospital in Cooch Behar district. 

Approaching the HC bench, the doctor alleged that the State Health Department denied him permission to study to acquire a higher degree in medicine. 

Considering the plea, the HC bench comprising Justice Jay Sengupta directed the State Health Department to submit its response to the plea within two weeks in the form of an affidavit, explaining why study leave cannot be granted to the petitioner.

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IANS has reported that the next hearing date of the matter will be fixed after the State Government submits its report. In his plea, the petitioner doctor claimed that he applied for study leave, as per protocol, to pursue a higher degree in the stream of surgery.

However, the Health Department denied his plea stating scarcity of doctors as no-objection certificates (NOCs) for study for higher education have already been granted to 489 doctors attached with state-run hospitals during the financial 2023-24.

As per the latest media report by Anandabazar, the petitioner has been working at MJN Hospital since 2016. Currently, he wishes to pursue higher studies in surgery and therefore, he had applied for 'Study Leave' to the State Health Department. However, the State rejected his application citing a scarcity of doctors in the State. Highlighting that 489 doctors were given NOCs for higher education, the Health Department allegedly informed the doctor that the crisis of doctors would increase further if more doctors were exempted from the service.

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