Doctrine of 'No Work Should Go Unpaid' to be applied to all doctors operating under AYUSH and CHS: Supreme Court

By - Pavni Dada*

In an office order dated June 30, 2016, the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) accepted the Government of India order and raised the retirement age for allopathic doctors working in the NDMC to 65 years. Whereas the Tribunal in the current case of North Delhi Municipal Corporation v. Dr. Ram Naresh Sharma & Ors. ruled that ayurvedic doctors covered by AYUSH had the same right to retirement age of 65-years as allopathic doctors. 

On the basis of this ruling, it was determined that the applicants were entitled to receive the same benefits and conditions of employment, including retirement age of 65-years, as doctors employed by CHS under the decision dated 31.05.2016. Employers were instructed to allow ayurveda doctors to work till the age of 65.

The appellant NDMC filed a writ petition before the High Court of Delhi, expressing its displeasure with the Tribunal's ruling. Government of India, Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy Unani Siddha and Homeopathy issued an order on 24.11.2017 stating that the retirement age for AYUSH doctors has also been raised to 65 years.

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The High Court’s interim order says the defendant may work, but will not be given pay until a decision is made. The defendant cannot claim compensation for services done if the plaintiff prevails. The high court ruled that doctors could only hold administrative jobs until they reached the age of 62, after which they would be assigned to non-administrative positions. 

They were to abide by the interim order dated September 26, 2017, until the matter is resolved. The high court cited a few previous cases, several of which were dismissed due to factual disparities. The high court was satisfied with the ruling of the tribunal.

This policy decision on extension of retirement age was originally only applicable to allopathic doctors but was later extended to other categories of doctors (including ayurvedic doctors) covered by AYUSH, according to the Tribunal's order. 

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The respondent doctors have been continually employed in hospitals till they reach the enhanced retirement age of 65 years, as stipulated in the AYUSH Ministry order dated 24.11.2017 and the High Court's interim order dated 26.09.2017, respectively. As a result of this action, patients, as well as their employers, have benefited from their efforts without paying them off. 

As a result of the interim orders, the question of whether or not they should be paid wages was highlighted. A doctor's basic pay cannot be denied under the saying "Actus Curiae Neminem Gravabit", which implies that the act of the court will not harm anyone. The state will be burdened financially in this case as said by the senior counsel for the appellant. The State's counsel, on one hand, will not accept such submission as fair. The State, on the other hand, cannot use the excuse of financial hardship to refuse doctors' salaries. Articles 14, 21 and 23 of the Constitution of India would be violated if this were to happen.

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In a nutshell, the Supreme Court held that the fact that ayurvedic doctors provided services despite not being paid cannot be overlooked. The unjust criterion of differentiation between AYUSH and CHS doctors is in violation of Article 14 of the Indian Constitution. As a result, in the present appeal, the AYUSH Ministry's order (increased retirement age) dated 24.11.2017 is directed to be retroactively implemented to all affected respondent doctors as of 31.05.2016. 

In light of the foregoing, the appellant's failure to pay the respondent doctors their appropriate salary and benefits, while their CHS counterparts received full pay and benefits, was regarded as discriminatory by the court. The classification was both discriminatory and illogical since doctors in both sectors treat and heal patients. 

“...the respondent ­doctors are entitled to their full salary arrears and the same is ordered to be disbursed, within 8 weeks from today. Belated payment beyond the stipulated period will carry interest, at the rate of 6% from the date of this order until the date of payment.”, the court held.

CLICK HERE TO READ JUDGMENT. 

*Pavni Dada is a 1^st year student pursuing B.B.A.LL.B from Symbiosis Law School, Hyderabad.