: Madras High court today ordered four weeks notice to officials of Tamil Nadu government, including the Health secretary, on a petition seeking to quash a June 26 2015 order, fixing working time for D grade staff in state hospitals at 12 hours.
Justice Hariparanthaan,ordered the notice on a petition by the Tamilnadu Medical Department All workers and Sanitary workers Association president M Venkatachalam.
The petitioner contended that providing 12 hours duty for only Last grade servants was violative of the Constitution. While A, B and C categories work for eight hours or shift duty, D grade staff had to work from 7 AM to 7 PM, he said.
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He submitted they were not working on the basis of on and Off duty as per the impugned order.
The orders of the Residential Medical Officers clearly said they should work for 12 hours,despite the HC's earlier directive to the officials to consider providing them eight hours duty like other grade staff.
Even after contempt notice was issued the officials said D grade staff work on the basis of on and off duty and not for 12 hours continuously and there was no need to provide them eight hours shift duty.
The letter said there was no possibility to provide eight hours shift duty to D grade servants.
Hence the assocation moved court.
