DIMAPUR: The government of Nagaland has refused to grant casual leave to the doctors protesting in the state demanding an increase in the superannuation age.
The doctors have been staging protests in different parts of the state demanding the government to increase the retirement age from 60 years to 62 years.
The protesting doctors in their recent announcement declared a 3-day mass casual leave in the upcoming week to put more emphasis on their demand.
This three-day casual leave is a part of the doctor's strike to increase their retirement age but the government denied it as per the Nagaland Government Servants Conduct Rules, 1968.
The NIDA (Nagaland In-Service Doctors Association) this week called its members to proceed on mass casual leaves starting from Monday 18 April till 20 April which would support its demand for an increase in retirement age.
Meanwhile, the Nagaland Chief Secretary J Alam has stated that the state government has taken note of several media reports regarding the protest by doctors and NIDA calling its members for casual leaves.
Moreover, the Chief Secretary has directed the Principal Director of HFW (Health and Family Welfare) to issue notice to all the officials that they do not give approval for the casual leaves of any governement employee.
He added, that in case the officers are already granted leave, it should be revoked or recalled at the earliest.
The state government announced its decision and made it clear that no such casual leave would be given to the protesting doctors in the state.
The government asserted this while referring to rule no. 25 of the Nagaland Government Servants Conduct Rules, 1968 which prohibits government employees to take part in any form of protest including mass casual leave.
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