Rs 25 lakh Bond condition at Kalpana Chawla Medical College withdrawn by Government

Chandigarh: Assistant Professors of Karnal based Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College have won their Punjab and Haryana Court petition battle, with the Haryana Government withdrawing the clause in their appointment letters of a bond submission of Rs. 25 lakh.

When the petition filed by Dr Archana Bharti and other assistant professors against Haryana and other respondents came up for resumed hearing, before the Justice GS Sandhawali's bench, the petitioners were in for a surprise as a short reply submitted by the state mentioned that the condition clause, the subject of challenge in the appointment letters had been withdrawn.

Justice Sandhawalia, during the course of the proceedings observed that a perusal of the Additional Chief Secretary's letter to the Director, Medical Education and Research Department, would reveal the government's decision to withdraw with immediate effect the condition of serving five years or executing a bond of Rs 25 lakh in lieu thereof, in the appointment letters.

The court in these circumstances was of the opinion that the present writ was to be considered infructuous and thereby, was to be considered disposed.

Counsel of the petitioners had earlier argued that the assistant professors were selected and appointed in the medical college; however, they were not in a position to fulfill their 22nd October, 2016, dated appointment letter clause of submitting a bond worth Rs.25 lakh.

The counsel also referred to a similar case in which the petitioner was allowed to join the post without the condition of insistence on submission of a Rs. 25 lakh bond, in the letter of appointment.

The bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal, which took up the petition in its earlier stages had issued notice of motion to the state before giving direction to the respondents for not insisting on compliance of the condition by the petitioners.

The other case referred to by the counsel of the petitioners filed by Fauzia Rehman Khan against Haryana and other respondents was also disposed off after the concerned respondent during the pendency of this litigation, withdrew the condition in the appointment order, issued to the petitioner, reports The Tribune.