Ranchi, Aug. 20: One is relaxed, the other is bracing for a legal showdown.

The two doctors, who have been dismissed from Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) for their long absence from duty, reacted differently today when asked about their further course of action.

While Karuna Jha took strong exception to her dismissal order, saying she would challenge it before the high court, her colleague Ajit Kumar Sinha welcomed his dismissal order as it had “relaxed” him.

Jha, a gynaecologist who was absent for 13 months, was livid. “I will challenge the order before Jharkhand High Court. It is injustice. RIMS dismissed me without issuing any showcause notice. I am a Class I officer and presently on leave. I am using the leave, which I have earned during my service at Rajendra Medical College and Hospital, now known as Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences. No one can dismiss me like this. This is complete violation of the law of natural justice,” Jha said.

She also said the same institute, which dismissed her from her job without assigning any reason, had praised her for her good service last month through a letter. “The institute director had requested me to join duty saying I had rendered good service to the institute in the past,” she said.

Jha further said that RIMS was yet to become an autonomous body. “RIMS is not a registered body till date. It is still dependent on the government. More the 70 per cent members are government officials in its governing body. If it had any power, it would have taken a decision on the application made by many doctors for their voluntary retirement,” she said.

By contrast, Sinha, who is a specialist in medicine, was brazen. “The RIMS governing body has taken the right step. A RIMS doctor engaged in private practice should be dismissed like me. I am feeling relaxed after getting information about my dismissal. I welcome the step, as I was not interested in working at RIMS ever since it banned private practice. I will not even go to claim my due amount and would much rather donate it for a good cause,” said Sinha, who was on leave for six months..

The doctor said he had already requested the RIMS director either to relieve from his services or allow him to work in a honorary capacity in the institute.

Singh said it was not possible for him to serve RIMS given the current situation. “I have a big set up. I pay Rs 80,000 per month to the bank as instalment for the loan which I have taken for carrying out private practice. Had I continued in RIMS, it would have been difficult for me to pay off my debts,” he said.