MAT orders Govt to pay agreed salary to temporary nurses
| Date :22-Sep-2020 |
Staff Reporter :
IN A major respite to temporary nurses whose salary was reduced to almost half, the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT) has directed the State Government to pay the salaries as per contract till the end of subsisting contract. MAT bench consisting of Vice-Chairman Shree Bhagwan and Member (Judicial) A D Karanjikar, found the decision to cut the salary of the nursing staff improper and in breach of contract in middle of their service period.
The State Government vide a GR dated April 29, 2020 reduced the salary of bonded nursing staff working in government hospitals by as much as 50 per cent. The applicant nurses claimed that being corona warriors, they were entitled to get full salary, but abruptly it has been reduced by as much as 50 per cent. The applicant-nurses led by Komal Shinde and others claimed that they were discharging duties like regular nursing staff and were expecting full salary in lieu of service discharged in government-run hospitals taking care of patients including corona positive patients.
They were appointed against vacant permanent posts and there was no condition in appointment order about reduction of salary. In fact on March 17, the State Government issued revised guidelines about remuneration of temporary staff including such nursing staff. But on April 29, the remuneration was reduced by 50 per cent and fixed at Rs 25,000, the applicants claimed. The State took out a special GR for temporary doctors and protected their salaries, but temporary nurses were given a raw deal, the applicants claimed while seeking stay to impugned order.
The MAT noted that GR was issued on April 29 and by issuing such a resolution, the Government can not take away rights of the applicants to receive the salary as per appointment orders. Adv Siddant Ghatte appeared for the petitioner. PO P N Warjukar represented the State.