Delhi LG approves extension of services of 962 contractual nursing staff

New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Saturday approved the extension of services of 962 nursing staff working on a contract basis for another year, according to an official statement.

The statement added that LG V.K. Saxena concurred with the proposal of the Department of Health and Family Welfare seeking an extension of services of contractual nursing employees for another year with effect from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.

LG Saxena also instructed the Health Department and the Delhi Subordinate Service Selection Board (DSSSB) to notify the vacant posts against which these contractual employees are hired and also conduct tests for regular appointments within a specific timeframe, as per the official statement.

The LG also said that the Health Department may also provide an Action Taken Report in this matter within three months for his perusal.

The move came following a similar move in which LG Saxena had approved the extension of services to 777 contractual para-medical employees and 476 part-time vocational teachers in the Health and Family Welfare Department and the Education Department of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi respectively.

"While disposing of the file, Saxena noted that extensions for contractual appointments were granted to these employees against regular sanctioned posts from time to time", said the official statement.

Additionally, the statement added that the proposal for the last extension of one year with effect from July 1, 2022, was approved by the LG last year with the rider that the Health Department fills these regular positions with permanent employees selected through the due process. However, the Health Department could not do the same till now and the current approval has been given in light of the emergent nature of the work performed by these contractual nurses.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had directed the Health and Family Welfare Department to frame a one-time regularisation policy, in respect of these employees.

Accordingly, a one-time-regularisation policy was framed by the department in 2022 but no advertisements regarding filing up of the posts on a regular basis were issued by the department, as per the statement.

The statement further added that a contempt petition and a written petition, in this matter, are pending before the High Court.