Chennai: The counselling session for government doctors, scheduled to be held on Wednesday by the Directorate of Medical Education (DME), was postponed following strong opposition from government doctors.

The special counselling was intended to fill vacant posts of assistant professors, senior and junior resident doctors, and instructors in medical college hospitals and government hospitals functioning under the DME.

However, controversy arose after priority was reportedly given to junior medical officers recently appointed through the Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB), instead of senior doctors who have been serving in government hospitals for several years.

Protesting this decision, a large number of doctors, led by Tamil Nadu Government Medical Officers Association (TNGMOA) secretary Dr. Akilan, staged a demonstration and laid siege to the DME office in Chennai.

In response to the protests, Director of Medical Education Dr. Suganthi Rajakumari announced that the special counselling has been postponed.

The DME is expected to announce a revised date for the counselling after discussions with representatives of the protesting doctors.