Srinagar: Doctors , especially new mothers at Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) in Jammu and Kashmir, have strongly criticised the state government's decision to refuse to pay salaries during maternity and paternity leaves for senior resident doctors, something they consider a ‘fundamental right,’ not a privilege. They have demanded an immediate rollback of the order.

The medical fraternity is opposing a recent order issued by the Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department, which turns maternity and paternity leaves into unpaid leaves. They called the decision 'unethical, discriminatory, and a violation of basic rights.'

The J&K health department issued an order on October 14, 2025, which stated that "pay and allowances shall be admissible only for the period during which the

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