Covid duty and quarantine period (total 150 days) are counted as bond service period of two years for Post-graduate Medical Student.

Covid duty and quarantine relatable to covid period (total 150 days) are counted as bond service period of two years for Post-graduate Medical Student.

Judgment dated 17.10.2023 in Dr.Pradeep Vasudevan Vs. The State of Tamil Nadu and others (W.P.Nos.28238 and 27756 of 2023)

The petitioner – Doctor had completed Post-graduation in General Medicine in the non-service category in May, 2022.  At the time of admission, bond for Rs.40 lakhs to serve the State for two years (2022 to 2024) after completion of the course was executed.

During pandemic, he was on covid duty although no appointment order was issued.

HELD that the covid duty should be taken as service during the bond period and also quarantine period is nothing but extension of covid duty since the quarantine was mandatory.  WP to treat the compulsory bond period as concluding on 2.1.2024 is allowed.