Ladakh makes Bond Service mandatory for MBBS, PG medicos, Rs 50 lakh penalty
Leh: With an aim to deal with the scarcity of doctors in Ladakh, the UT Administration has revised its bond service policy by making it mandatory for all the MBBS, PG Degree/Diploma students and for those pursuing other medical courses.
Issuing order in this regard on June 20, 2022, the UT Health Department has clarified that now the MBBS and PG Degree students will have to serve in Ladakh for 5 years and 3 years respectively. In case, they fail to serve their bond, the students will be liable to pay Rs 50 lakh to Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh.
However, the bond service period for students pursuing other medical courses has been fixed as 2 years and in case of failure to serve the bond, the candidates will have to pay Rs 45 lakh as penalty.
The UT has further clarified that the bond service obligations shall not be applicable if the appointment is not made within two months from the date of the aforesaid communication by the Administration.
These bond terms have been issued by the UT Health Department while revising its earlier policy that was issued last year. Medical Dialogues had reported in August 2021 that the Ladakh administration had ordered that, "all candidates who apply for admission in any Medical College/Dental College/Institutes of Medical Sciences by whatever name called must execute a Compulsory Service Bond to serve in the Union Territory of Ladakh for a prescribed period immediately after the completion of the course, if the Administration requires so."
Although the Bond Service period was similar before, the penalty amount was Rs 50 lakh for MBBS and PG clinical courses, Rs 45 lakh for PG Diploma, DNB and Para Clinical Courses, and Rs 30 lakh for BDS courses.
Apart from this, previously, the Administration had stated that the bond service terms will be ineffective if the Administration fails to provide the candidates with an appointment "within a period of 10 Months from the date of communication to the Administration regarding his/her successful completion of the Course & his / her eligibility for service."
However, revising these rules, the UT administration has made it mandatory for all candidates to execute a bond. As per the new policy, the MBBS, PG Degree, and students of other medical courses have to serve in Ladakh for 5 years, 3 years and 2 years respectively. The penalty amount is now Rs 50 lakh for MBBS and PG Degree students Rs 45 lakh for students pursuing other medical courses.
As per the new rule, "The obligation to serve compulsory period shall not be applicable if his/her appointment under the Administration of Union territory of Ladakh is not made by the Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh with in a period of two months from the date of the aforesaid communication by the Administration."
Referring to the scarcity of doctors, the order issued by Dr. Iftakhar Ahmed Chowdhary, Additional Secretary of the UT Health and Medical Education Department stated, "there is a scarcity of doctors in Union Territory of Ladakh and consequently there is an urgent need to take certain measures to ensure availability of doctors to provide quality healthcare to people in Union Territory of Ladakh."
The UT administration referred to its earlier order and stated, "with the objective of overcoming scarcity of doctors in Union Territory of Ladakh, the Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh had formulated the Compulsory Government Service Policy for those who avail Central Pool Ladakh Merit Seats or J&K State Pool Ladakh Merit Seats vide Notification No.M-17030/7/2021 dated 23-08-2021."
Mentioning that the old rules have now been revised, the order mentioned, "the Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh has decided to revise the aforesaid Compulsory Government Service Policy."
The details of the new bond service policy that shall be applicable from 2022 onwards is as follows:
"(1) For the purpose of this Compulsory Government Service Policy, unless the context otherwise requires 'Candidate' means the student who intends to pursue medical course under Central Pool Ladakh Merit Seat or J&K State Pool Ladakh Merit Seat.
(2) Every candidate who intends to avail a Central Pool Ladakh Merit Seat or J&K State Pool Ladakh Merit Seat, as the case may be, shall execute a Compulsory Service Bond (hereinafter referred to as the Bond) in favor of the Administration of Union territory of Ladakh and submit it in original to Director Health Services, Union territory of Ladakh, inter-alia, stating that:
(a) he/she shall serve under the Administration of Union territory of Ladakh for a compulsory period of 05 (five years) immediately after successful completion of MBBS Course. If he/she fails to serve the aforesaid stipulated period, he/she shall have to pay an amount of Rs. 50,00000/ (Rupees fifty lakhs only) to the Administration of the Union Territory of Ladakh.
(b) he/she shall serve under the Administration of Union territory of Ladakh for a compulsory period of 03 (three) years immediately after successful completion of PG Degree in Clinical Courses. If he/she fails to serve the aforesaid stipulated period of 03 (three) years, he/she shall be required to pay an amount of Rs. 50,00000/- (Rupees Fifty Lakhs Only) to Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh.
(c) he/she shall serve under the Administration of Union territory of Ladakh for a compulsory period of 02 (two) years immediately after successful completion of Medical Course not covered under clause (a) and (b) above. If he/she fails to serve for the aforesaid stipulated period, he/she shall be required to pay an amount of Rs. 45,00000/ (Rupees Forty-Five Lakhs Only) to the Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh.
(3) Before allocating a Central Pool Ladakh Merit Seat or J&K State Pool Ladakh Merit Seat, Director, Health Services, Union Territory of Ladakh or J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examination (BOPEE), as the case may be, shall obtain the Bond in original from the candidate who intends to avail such a seat.
(4) The candidate allotted a Central Pool Ladakh Merit Seat or J&K State Pool Ladakh Merit Seat, shall communicate, in writing, to the Director, Health Services, Union Territory of Ladakh, within 10 days of his/her successful completion of the course. The obligation to serve compulsory period shall not be applicable if his/her appointment under the Administration of Union territory of Ladakh is not made by the Administration of Union Territory of Ladakh with in a period of two months from the date of the aforesaid communication by the Administration.
(5) A candidate, who is serving compulsory period shall be permitted to undergo PG Degree course or PG Diploma course, but he/she shall be required to serve the remaining bond period after successful completion of PG Degree course or PG Diploma course, as the case may be, such that he/she serves a total compulsory period of five years. For undergoing the afore said PG Degree/Diploma course, he/she shall be required to submit proof of his/her selection to the PG course, along with a request letter seeking permission to undergo the said course, to Director, Health Services, Union Territory of Ladakh. He/she shall also be required to furnish a certificate, duly signed by the Principal/Head of the Institute/College, by 31st January and 31st July every year stating that he/she is undergoing the
(6) Any Violation of the terms and conditions of the Bond shall also be reported to the National Medical Commission of India for disciplinary action under the Indian Medical Council (Professional Conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations."
