Srinagar: Resident doctors across Jammu and Kashmir have strongly opposed the state government’s decision to withhold salaries during maternity and paternity leaves for senior resident doctors, calling it “unethical, discriminatory, and a violation of basic rights.” The order, issued by the Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department, has sparked widespread outrage within the medical fraternity, particularly among new mothers serving in government medical colleges.
The controversy stems from an October 14, 2025, directive stating that “pay and allowances shall be admissible only for the period during which the incumbent is executing their assignment/course and entitlement to pay and allowances during the period of maternity/paternity leave shall not be allowed.” The order was first issued to the Government Dental College, Srinagar, and later extended to all Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) across Jammu and Kashmir.
Doctors argue that the move strips them of a fundamental right and subjects them to financial distress. “Resident doctors already serve under extremely demanding conditions with limited remuneration and little personal time. Denying financial security during a legally sanctioned leave period adds another layer of exploitation,” said a representative of the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA), GMC Srinagar.
The medical community has also expressed frustration over the government’s policy reversal. In July 2024, the same department had allowed paid maternity and paternity leave for senior residents with tenure extensions, aligning with National Medical Commission (NMC) norms. The sudden withdrawal of that policy, doctors said, is “regressive and demoralizing.”
In its official statement, the RDA demanded an immediate rollback of the order and urged the government to reinstate salary benefits during maternity and paternity leaves. The association emphasized that such leaves are “not privileges but fundamental rights recognized across all sectors.”
Echoing similar sentiments, the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Students’ Association condemned the order in a post on X, writing: “Denying contractual pay during maternity/paternity leave is unacceptable and demeans the workforce. These leaves are guaranteed rights, not privileges to be revoked. Stop penalizing the doctors who are indispensable to patient care.”
The growing backlash has amplified calls for the administration to reconsider its decision, with medical professionals warning that such policies could harm morale and ultimately affect the quality of patient care in government hospitals.
