HC asks doctor to honour contract with hosp or pay up


TIMES NEWS NETWORK


Madurai  07.09.2018

 Terming the petition of a doctor urging a Madurai-based ophthalmology institute to return his MBBS and postgraduate provisional certificates without serving his contract unreasonable, the Madurai bench of the Madras high court directed the doctor to complete his contract of two years at the hospital or pay up the ₹20 lakh as per the agreed terms.

Dr J Praveen had moved the bench seeking directions to Aravind Eye Hospitals, Madurai to return his original certificates. After completing MBBS in 2011, Praveen applied for postgraduation in ophthalmology in 2014 and was allotted the three-year course at Aravind institutions. At the time of admission, Praveen executed a bond with the institution to the effect that he would serve in the hospital for two years after completing the course, failing which he would pay ₹20 lakh to the institution. However, on completing the course in July 2017, Praveen requested the institution to return the original certificates and since it did not consider his representation, he approached the court.

The doctor’s counsel submitted that when the bond was executed, he was under the impression that he was required to serve only in government service and not Aravind institute. The institution’s counsel submitted that the doctor having used the institution for academic pursuit, cannot be allowed to contend that he was under no obligation to abide by the bond conditions.