Chennai : In a significant ruling, the Madras High Court has directed the Government Villupuram Medical College to release pending salary and provide necessary documentation to a doctor who had completed her bond service. The order includes issuance of an experience certificate, a relieving order, and payment of salary for the period between September 1, 2024 and December 5, 2024.
The directive was issued by Justice N Mala, who observed that the petitioner had fulfilled all obligations under the two-year bond she signed upon completion of her MS post-graduation from Government Stanley Medical College.
The petitioner, a non-service doctor, had executed the mandatory government service bond and submitted her original certificates at the time of admission. However, despite completing her postgraduate studies in May 2021, the petitioner did not receive a posting order until July 7, 2022, following which she joined duty on July 18, 2022.
During the bond service, the petitioner availed maternity leave (July 2022 – July 2023) and unpaid leave (July 2023 – December 2023), and resumed duty on December 6, 2023. Claiming that the two-year bond obligation had ended by December 6, 2024, the petitioner sought to resign and requested her relieving order. When no action was taken by the college, she moved the High Court.
The Court, after reviewing submissions, noted that the authorities had not contested the completion of the bond. Justice Mala ruled, “On the completion of the bond period, the respondents are bound to pay the petitioner salary, issue an experience certificate and pass relieving order from bond service.”
The Court directed the medical college to:
- Disburse salary from 01.09.2024 to 05.12.2024
- Issue an experience certificate
- Provide a relieving order from bond service
These actions must be completed within four weeks from the date of receipt of the court’s order.
This ruling comes as a reminder to government medical institutions to comply with their obligations towards bonded doctors and maintain fair administrative practices.
