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The Telangana Senior Residents Doctors Association (T-SRDA) has flagged the mandatory collection of a ₹15,000 rejoining fee from female postgraduate doctors who avail maternity leave, calling it unjustified and symptomatic of deeper systemic gaps in how maternity leave is handled across government medical colleges in the State.
In a statement, the association said that female postgraduates are required to pay the fee after completing the mandatory three-month maternity leave in order to rejoin their courses. “Even after paying the amount, students are required to wait for an additional 15 to 20 days to obtain university permission, thereby being denied access to departmental facilities,” the statement said.
The association pointed to the absence of uniform and clearly communicated maternity leave guidelines as a core problem. It said there are no standard protocols issued by Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS), resulting in inconsistent practices across colleges and repeated confusion for students returning after childbirth.
Postgraduate doctors do not receive stipends during the extension period following maternity leave. Even after the extension is completed, stipends are reportedly delayed by four to five months, causing severe financial strain and affecting maternal and child health at a critical stage, the doctors claimed.
The representation also raised concerns over restrictions imposed during the extension period. “Female postgraduate doctors are not permitted to take casual leave during this time, even in cases of medical emergencies or child health issues, despite having eligible leave balances,” they added.
T-SRDA has demanded immediate waiver of the ₹15,000 rejoining fee, along with the formulation and dissemination of clear maternity leave and rejoining guidelines applicable to all medical colleges.
Published – December 15, 2025 03:10 am IST
