SUB-ASSISTANT SURGEONS IN CIVIL MEDICAL CHARGE.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
"
INDIAN MEDICAL
GAZETTE."
from the observations made by Hi3 Excellency the Governor General in Council in Financial Resolution No. 2068, dated the 30th November last, on the subject of the memorial which the Sub-Assistant Surgeons of this Presidency had submitted to the Supreme Government, praying for an increase of pay and for improvement of official status, it is quite evident that that Government has never taken the least pains to make itself acquainted with either the real wants or the just claims of this useful, but hitherto neglected class of public servants, so it will not be out of place here to make a few remarks with regard to a question in which their most vital interests are involved, and which is now under the conThis question relates to the sideration of Government. scale of pay which is to be allowed to those Sub-Assistant Surgeons who may be fortunate enough to be selected for Civil Medical Charges; and the following remarks have been suggested by the order in the Gazette of the 27th April last, which runs thus :?
Sir,?As Viceroy and
" In continuation of Notification No. 2294 of this date, the Governor General in Council is pleased to lay down the following scale of consolidated salaries for Uncovenanted Medical Officers, other than Sub-Assistant Surgeons, when placed in Medical Oharge of Civil Stations."
Now it is evident from this that the same liberal scale of pay which has been fixed for those Officers who are technically called Uncovenanted Medical Officers, is not to apply to the Subs, although they may be placed on an equal footing with the others, both as regards the nature and the amount of their
work.
But, even supposing that by the so-called Uncovenanted Medical Officers is here meant none other than that handful of qualified medical practitioners who come to India from Great Britain and Ireland, but without holding a commission in tha Army like the members of the regular Medical Service, will it be just or politic on the part of the Government to allow them a higher scale of pay than what may be fixed for Sub-Assistant Surgeons in Civil Medical Charge, when the professional acquirements of the latter, as is well known, are by no means of an inferior order, and specially when it is considered that no such invidious distinction exists in any other branch of the public service. and that such a proceeding cannot but be in contravention of an express order of the Home Government, as promulgated in the well-known proclamation of 1858 ? It may be also mentioned here that in order to do full justice to this class of public servants, to whom the Government has so liberally given a high professional education at its owii expense, it is necessary that besides the jnere question of pay, a few others in connection with their grievances, which require serious consideration, should once for all be disposed of at this time in a satisfactory mauner.
Of these, first comes promotion, which, in justice ought to depend upon approved service after every five years, as in the
case of the Uncovenanted Medical Officers, instead of on the result of an examination at every septennial period, as the rule
August 1,
1S67.]
NOTICES OF BOOKS.
is ; for nothing can be so humiliating to the feelings of an Officer, who may perhaps have for years discharged satisfactorily the responsible duties of a Civil Surgeon, as having to appear before an Examining Committee, in order to pass what may not be improperly called the farce of an examination. Secondly, the rate of travelling allowances for Sub-Assistant Surgeons ought also to be revised and brought on an equal footing with that of the Uncovenanted Medical Officers ; for nothing can be so anomalous as to deny to persons holding Civil Medical charge what the Government allows easily to an Assistant Superintendent of Police, or even to an Engineer's apprentice. I remain, Sir, Yours obediently, now
A Probe.
209
TO THE EDITOR OF THE
"
INDIAN MEDICAL
GAZETTE."
from the observations made by Hi3 Excellency the Governor General in Council in Financial Resolution No. 2068, dated the 30th November last, on the subject of the memorial which the Sub-Assistant Surgeons of this Presidency had submitted to the Supreme Government, praying for an increase of pay and for improvement of official status, it is quite evident that that Government has never taken the least pains to make itself acquainted with either the real wants or the just claims of this useful, but hitherto neglected class of public servants, so it will not be out of place here to make a few remarks with regard to a question in which their most vital interests are involved, and which is now under the conThis question relates to the sideration of Government. scale of pay which is to be allowed to those Sub-Assistant Surgeons who may be fortunate enough to be selected for Civil Medical Charges; and the following remarks have been suggested by the order in the Gazette of the 27th April last, which runs thus :?
Sir,?As Viceroy and
" In continuation of Notification No. 2294 of this date, the Governor General in Council is pleased to lay down the following scale of consolidated salaries for Uncovenanted Medical Officers, other than Sub-Assistant Surgeons, when placed in Medical Oharge of Civil Stations."
Now it is evident from this that the same liberal scale of pay which has been fixed for those Officers who are technically called Uncovenanted Medical Officers, is not to apply to the Subs, although they may be placed on an equal footing with the others, both as regards the nature and the amount of their
work.
But, even supposing that by the so-called Uncovenanted Medical Officers is here meant none other than that handful of qualified medical practitioners who come to India from Great Britain and Ireland, but without holding a commission in tha Army like the members of the regular Medical Service, will it be just or politic on the part of the Government to allow them a higher scale of pay than what may be fixed for Sub-Assistant Surgeons in Civil Medical Charge, when the professional acquirements of the latter, as is well known, are by no means of an inferior order, and specially when it is considered that no such invidious distinction exists in any other branch of the public service. and that such a proceeding cannot but be in contravention of an express order of the Home Government, as promulgated in the well-known proclamation of 1858 ? It may be also mentioned here that in order to do full justice to this class of public servants, to whom the Government has so liberally given a high professional education at its owii expense, it is necessary that besides the jnere question of pay, a few others in connection with their grievances, which require serious consideration, should once for all be disposed of at this time in a satisfactory mauner.
Of these, first comes promotion, which, in justice ought to depend upon approved service after every five years, as in the
case of the Uncovenanted Medical Officers, instead of on the result of an examination at every septennial period, as the rule
August 1,
1S67.]
NOTICES OF BOOKS.
is ; for nothing can be so humiliating to the feelings of an Officer, who may perhaps have for years discharged satisfactorily the responsible duties of a Civil Surgeon, as having to appear before an Examining Committee, in order to pass what may not be improperly called the farce of an examination. Secondly, the rate of travelling allowances for Sub-Assistant Surgeons ought also to be revised and brought on an equal footing with that of the Uncovenanted Medical Officers ; for nothing can be so anomalous as to deny to persons holding Civil Medical charge what the Government allows easily to an Assistant Superintendent of Police, or even to an Engineer's apprentice. I remain, Sir, Yours obediently, now
A Probe.
209
