5 St Stephens Hospital staff move Delhi HC against their sacking during coronavirus outbreak

A plea has been moved in Delhi High Court by five employees of St Stephens Hospital challenging facility's decision to sack m from its Gurgaon branch during coronavirus outbreak.

petition, moved by ex-support staff of St Stephens Hospital Healthcare Facility in Gurgaon, contended that decision was taken without giving any tice or opportunity to hear m.

decision was taken on March 30 by manment of St Stephens Hospital, located at Tis Hazari here, as it was closing its Gurgaon facility, plea said.

However, one else was terminated by hospital, petition claimed.

Apart from hospital, petition has arrayed ministries of Home Affairs and Labour and Employment as parties in matter.

petitioners have contended that decision was in violation of visories issued by Labour Ministry on March 20 and March 23 which h "specifically directed that persons engd contractually or casually with eir public or private establishments t be terminated during coronavirus outbreak".

petition said that due to ir termination, petitioners have been left without any means of livelihood for mselves and ir families during prevailing COVID-19 pandemic.

"That such termination at this catastrophic juncture is inhumane and in teeth of two visories," petition said.

It sought quashing of March 30 decision taken by St Stephens Hospital manment or a direction to continue employing m while COVID-19 pandemic subsists in country.