Chandigarh, Sept 13 — The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday ordered the Haryana government not to take coercive action against state doctors and health staff for failing to register attendance through a newly introduced Geofencing mobile application.
The interim order was issued by Justice Sandeep Moudgil while hearing a petition filed by the Haryana Civil Medical Services Association and other employees challenging the mandatory use of the app. The petitioners sought to quash a May 30 directive requiring all staff of the Health and Family Welfare Department to download the application and use it for attendance in addition to the existing biometric system.
The doctors argued that compelling employees to buy smartphones to mark their presence was unreasonable. They also asked the court to prevent the state from withholding benefits such as casual leave, child care leave and other entitlements on the grounds of non-compliance with the Geofencing system.
“The respondents be prohibited from rejecting the benefits of employees on the pretext of non-marking the attendance through the Geofencing app,” the petition stated.
After being served with an advance copy of the plea, Deputy Advocate General Mayuri Lakhanpal Kalia appeared before the Bench and requested additional time to submit the state’s reply. Justice Moudgil allowed the request, directing the state counsel to file a response with an advance copy to the petitioners at least seven days before the next hearing.
“State counsel is directed to file reply with an advance copy to opposite counsel at least seven days before the date fixed,” the order read. The matter has been adjourned to January 15, 2026.
Until then, the court made it clear that “no coercive steps shall be taken against the petitioners.”
