Ayurvedic Doctors Entitled To Enhanced Retirement Age Of 65: Top Court

The Supreme Court opined that both - allopathic and Ayurvedic doctors - render service to patients and on this core aspect there is nothing to distinguish them.

Ayurvedic doctors covered under AYUSH are also entitled to the benefit of enhanced superannuation age of 65 years at par with allopathic doctors, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday. A Bench of Justice L Nageswara Rao and Justice Hrishikesh Roy opined that both - allopathic and Ayurvedic doctors - render service to patients and on this core aspect there is nothing to distinguish them. There is no rational justification for having different dates for bestowing the benefit of extended age of superannuation to these two categories of doctors, said the top court. In the judgment, the top court said, "We have no hesitation in holding that the respondent doctors (Ayurvedic) are entitled to their full salary arrears and the same is ordered to be disbursed, within eight weeks from today. Belated payment beyond the stipulated period will carry interest, at the rate of six percent from the date of this order until the date of payment. It is ordered accordingly." "We are quite clear in our mind that the respondents must be paid their lawful remuneration arrears and current, as the case may be. The State cannot be allowed to plead financial burden to deny salary for the legally serving doctors. Otherwise, it would violate their rights under Articles 14, 21, and 23 of the Constitution," the judgment further stated.