The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday ordered notice to the State government in connection with a petition seeking quashing of demand notice issued by the government asking a doctor to pay Rs five lakh penalty for violating the undertaking to serve three years after completion of MD course in radiotherapy, studying in a government seat.

The petitioner, Dr Avinash H U, was alloted a seat under government quota in M S Ramaiah Medical College for postgraduate degree in radiotherapy in 2010. He had also given an undertaking to serve the government for a minimum period of three years after completing the course, failing which he would have to pay a penalty of Rs five lakh to the government.

Avinash completed his course in 2013 and attended a counselling for appointment as a government doctor. However, he was told that there were no vacancies in any of the government hospitals in the Department of Radiation Oncology. He joined as a senior resident in the Department of Radiation Oncology at St John’s Medical College and Hospital in June 2013.

‘Waive bond money’

The petitioner appealed to the government to waive bond money of Rs five lakh giving details about the circumstances for not joining the government service.  

However, his request was not considered and the government issued a demand notice calling upon the petitioner to pay the bond money within 15 days.

Avinash had challenged the demand notice. Justice Ananda Byrareddy ordered emergent notice to the government and also granted stay on the demand notice issued by the government.