The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a petition by Karnataka government doctors seeking protection against transfer orders to less urban districts, noting that “Bengaluru’s cosmopolitan life is very alluring.” The doctors had argued that posting transfers to unevenly developed rural areas would disrupt their family lives and hamper their careers. But the SC bench, asking them to consider the benefits of serving in all parts of the state, emphasized that a thriving city life should not be the sole basis for resisting transfers.
The bench stated that doctors should embrace their duty to treat patients irrespective of location, whether in Bengaluru’s advanced hospitals or in district health centres. It underscored that working in less-developed areas plays a critical role in improving healthcare access across Karnataka .
By rejecting the plea, the court affirmed that transfers are a regular administrative measure and not unconstitutional. It emphasized that individual preferences for urban living cannot override the government's responsibility to provide essential services statewide.
