Rajasthan Govt resolves APO regularisation for doctors after PG, senior residency
Doctor
Jaipur: In a major development for government doctors in Rajasthan, the long-standing issue of separate Awaiting Posting Orders (APO) regularisation following the completion of postgraduate studies and senior residency has been resolved. The State Government has issued formal directives, bringing substantial relief to thousands of in-service doctors across the state.
The government order stated, “Regularization of APO period of doctors who are waiting in the Directorate (Headquarters) after being reinstated from suspension and awaiting orders due to other administrative reasons will be sent to the State Government through the Directorate as per the existing procedure after receiving the proposal from the concerned Controlling Officer”.
The order clarifies that in-service doctors who completed PG, DNB, DM, MCH, Senior Residency, PCPNDT training, and other approved academic programmes are required to mark their attendance at the respective government medical colleges until they receive their official postings. The order further clarifies that after the completion of sanctioned study leave or extraordinary leave, salaries for the interim period prior to formal appointment must be disbursed by the institution of the new posting. Payment will be processed based on the attendance certification issued by the designated controlling authority, with the waiting duration for withdrawal orders to be treated as regular service.
Moreover, after the doctors are duly posted, only after joining the duty within the prescribed joining time, the waiting period for orders should be considered regular, and salary should be drawn from the new place of posting. In case of failure to join duty within the stipulated time period, a proposal should be sent to the State Government through the Directorate as per the rules for regularisation of the waiting period for orders of the doctor.
“If there are no vacant positions within the institution for drawing salary for the APO period, the Chief Medical and Health Officer will draw from an equivalent vacant position in the district. If there are no equivalent positions vacant in the district, the salary will be drawn from an equivalent vacant position in the relevant division,” the order further added. The order issued by the Governor, Nisha Meena, also stated that the doctors who report to the Directorate Headquarters after completing higher studies from private universities (on completion of study leave/extraordinary leave) should also be dealt with as above till they are duly posted.
Previously, Medical Dialogues reported that the doctors have urged the State Government to intervene and ensure that such doctors receive their posting promptly. In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary of the Rajasthan Government, Dr. Bharat Pareek, President of United Doctors' Front (UDF), Rajasthan, submitted that for the past few years, doctors who have completed their PG and SR training have been kept waiting for orders for a long time at the Directorate or the concerned medical college.
UDF has lauded the new order, stating that it is not merely an administrative correction; it is a victory for fairness, dignity, and professional justice for doctors who were facing unnecessary delays, salary issues, and procedural hurdles. Dr. Bharat Pareek, State President, UDF Rajasthan, stated, "This decision proves that when issues are raised with unity, clarity, and commitment, solutions follow. It is a win for doctors and a progressive step toward administrative reform."
