Cuttack: Modifying its May 1 order, the Orissa High Court on Tuesday lifted the interim stay on recruitment of 7483 nursing officers.
However, hearing on plea of pharmacists and paramedics applicants, seeking preference in the recruitment process as COVID Warriors, will continue and no appointments would be made to those vacant posts, it added.
The Odisha Sub-Ordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC) had invited online applications from eligible candidates for filling up 7483 Nursing Officer posts in 30 district establishments and 13 Medical colleges and hospitals. The exam was conducted on March 19. The state government had also sent requisites to the OSSSC for the recruitment of 1,002 pharmacists, 921 laboratory technicians and 378 radiographers in different government hospitals and medical colleges.
Hearing the plea of pharmacists and para-medics, the state’s apex court on May 1 directed the government to continue with the recruitment process but not to announce results. Following which, the aspiring nursing officers filed a petition before the court, requesting it to reconsider the decision.
The petitioners urged the HC to separate nursing officers’ post from the plea of COVID warriors and allow their recruitment as per merit since the delay in their appointment had paralysed healthcare in the medical college and other hospital, lawyer Satyabrata Mohanty told the media. “The state government also supported our argument,” he added.