Quarantine Days During Covid-19 Duty Rendered By Medical PG Students Part Of Bond Service: Madras High Court

Justice Anita Sumanth observed that the quarantine period was nothing but an extension of the covid duty itself and thus gave relief to a student who wanted his quarantine period of 150 days during the covid duty to be included in the mandatory bond period.

“The period of quarantine is, in my considered view, nothing but an extension of covid duty itself as the Rules prevalent then required mandatory quarantine. The petitioner would well have continued with the duty in the covid ward itself has it not been for the mandate of compulsory quarantine,” the court observed.

The petitioner doctor had completed his post graduation in General Medicine in May 2022 in the non service category and at the time of admission to the course, had executed a bond for a sum of Rs. 40 lakh undertaking that he would serve the State for a period of two years after completion of the course. The bond period was to end on May 31^st, 2024.

During the course, the petitioner was put on covid duty though no appointment orders could be issued as he was a student. The covid duty however was not disputed as per the duty sheets for the service.

The court noted that consideration of covid duty rendered by the students as service during the bond period was no longer res integra and was already considered by the courts. The point that needed to be answered was whether the quarantine period also had to be considered as covid duty.

The court thus observed that the closure of bond period will be advanced from May 31^st, 2024 to January 2^nd, 2024 and directed the college to return the original certificates to the petitioner upon completion of the bond period.

Counsel for the Petitioner: Mr.Suhrith Parthasarathy

Counsel for the Respondent: Mr.KMD.Muhilan Additional Government Pleader

Citation: 2023 LiveLaw (Mad) 332

Case Title: Dr.Pradeep Vasudevan v The State of Tamil nadu

Case No: W.P.No.28238 of 2023