Munger: All 74 government doctors posted at Munger Sadar hospital and at rural primary health centres have, under the banner of Munger unit of Bihar Health Services Association, refused in writing to obey the orders of Munger district magistrate (DM) Anand Sharma and Munger civil surgeon Dr Yogendra Prasad Bhagat, asking them to mark their attendance via selfie from Saturday.

Members of the paramedical staff of Sadar hospital and rural primary health centres began marking their attendance via selfies from Saturday. "I support the Munger DM's order whole-heartedly," Arun Yadav, a government high school teacher. "I also appeal to the Bihar health minister to introduce selfie attendance system for all doctors and all paramedical staff in Bihar."

The Munger civil surgeon confirmed there was resistance to the move. "Yes, it's true that angry government doctors in large numbers today (Saturday) came to my residence and to express their resentment over his written order of marking their selfie attendance from September 1. They have refused to obey the Munger DM's order in this regard."

In a memorandum, they have said they would mark their selfie attendance only after the principal secretary, health, Sanjoy Kumar okays the Munger collector's proposal," Munger civil surgeon Dr Yogendra Prasad Bhagat told The Telegraph.

"So, I'll wait for the principal secretary's directives in this matter. Meanwhile, government doctors will mark their attendance as they did earlier. But, the paramedical staff have begun marking their selfie attendance at Munger Sadar hospital and at rural primary health centres in the Munger district," said the Munger civil surgeon.

"All government doctors are the gazetted government officers. They will not mark their attendance through selfie attendance system. Does the DM or the SP or the SDO mark his attendance through selfie attendance? The answer is 'no'. So, they will also not mark their selfie attendance till the arrival of the principal secretary's directives," Dr Jagat Kumar, district secretary, Munger unit, Bihar Health Services Association , told The Telegraph on Saturday.

"Whatever I've done is in the interest of the poor and helpless patients of Munger district who wait impatiently for the doctors' arrival at Munger Sadar hospital and at rural government primary health centres during working hours," said Munger DM Sharma.