SC refers to larger bench question of parity between AYUSH and allopathic doctors

The Supreme Court has referred to a larger bench the question whether doctors practising indigenous medical systems such as Ayurveda, Unani, homeopathy can be treated on par with "allopathic" doctors for determining service conditions, retirement age, and pay scales.

On May 13, a bench comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran reserved its order on the pleas seeking an answer to whether there can be a different age of superannuation for doctors practising modern medicine from the practitioners of AYUSH in government hospitals and clinics.

In an order delivered on October 17, the bench said "there is divergence of opinion" on whether doctors of the two systems can be treated equally for service benefits and hence, the issue required an authoritative pronouncement.

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