Mumbai doctors with disabilities voiced strong opposition to a state order mandating re-verification of their disability status. The directive affects government employees across institutions like KEM Hospital and BMC, despite many holding valid, permanent Unique Disability ID (UDID) cards. The Doctors with Disabilities: Agents of Change organization raised these concerns on the eve of World Disability Day, calling the order distressing and illegal.
The group sent a representation to the Maharashtra Chief Secretary. They argue the circular, issued by the Disability Welfare Department, forces a blanket re-examination. This order creates significant distress among employees, some of whom have served the state for decades.
Legal Challenge and Inconsistency
The doctors’ organization states the order conflicts with established disability laws. They cite the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Rules, 2024, and the RPDA Act, 2016. Specifically, Rule 8(2) of the RPwD Rules states re-verification is only permissible in individual cases where an establishment has specific doubts about a certificate’s authenticity. In such instances, an appeal must go before a designated authority. This authority must hear both parties and issue a reasoned order.
The current directive bypasses this due process. It mandates mass re-examinations without specific cause against individual employees. Doctors argue this violates principles of dignity and non-discrimination. It also conflicts with ethical obligations of medical institutions. These institutions now direct senior colleagues to undergo repeated medical scrutiny.
Impact on Doctors and Ethical Concerns
The organization reports that even severely disabled senior professors face invasive procedures. Examples include EMG tests and X-rays. Some of these individuals use wheelchairs or wear calipers. They possess 100% disability ratings. This practice undermines the UDID system’s credibility. It causes profound humiliation. Doctors say it violates principles of autonomy, non-maleficence, and justice.
The law does not allow for a mass medical re-examination of all disabled employees. The directive forces medical institutions to examine their own faculty. This raises serious ethical questions within the medical community.
Demands for Action
The Doctors with Disabilities: Agents of Change organization has submitted specific demands to the state government. They seek immediate action to address the circular’s impact.
- Suspend or Withdraw Circular: The government must immediately halt or revoke the directive.
- Reinstate Due Process: Re-establish procedures outlined in the RPDA Act, 2016, and RPwD Rules, 2024.
- Ensure Ethical Practices: Medical institutions must not face pressure into unethical re-examinations.
- Hold Fraudsters Accountable: Focus efforts on identifying and prosecuting cases of fraudulent certificates.
- Strengthen Medical Boards: Improve the functioning of medical boards. This will prevent unnecessary scrutiny of genuine employees.
The doctors emphasize that the government should target fraudulent cases. They state genuine employees should not suffer from unnecessary scrutiny. Their call for action aims to protect the rights and dignity of disabled government employees in Maharashtra.