The Bihar government has once again extended the deadline for Dr Nusrat Parveen to join her assigned post, pushing the date to January 7. This comes after an earlier controversy in December, when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was seen pulling down her naqab while she was receiving her appointment letter at a public event. The incident attracted widespread attention and criticism, prompting repeated extensions of her joining date by the state authorities.
Previously, the government had asked Dr Parveen to report for duty on December 20 and again on December 31. However, she did not join on either occasion. Officials had earlier indicated that failure to report for duty within the stipulated time could result in the cancellation of her appointment. Despite this, the state has now granted her another extension, allowing her time until January 7 to make a decision.
Dr Parveen was assigned to join the Sabalpur Primary Health Centre in Patna Sadar. Vijay Kumar, a surgeon posted at the PHC, confirmed that she had not reported for duty so far. Her absence has continued to draw attention, particularly in light of the circumstances surrounding her appointment ceremony.
The incident that triggered the controversy took place on December 15 at the Chief Minister’s secretariat in Patna, where newly appointed Ayush doctors had gathered to receive their appointment letters. When Dr Parveen approached the stage wearing a naqab, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reportedly questioned her attire by asking, “What is this?” before pulling down her veil. The moment was captured on video and quickly went viral, leading to strong political reactions and public debate across party lines.
The video shows the Chief Minister gesturing toward her headscarf after handing over the appointment letter. He then asked her about it and proceeded to remove it himself. The clip sparked widespread discussion on issues of personal freedom, religious expression, and official conduct, drawing criticism from several quarters.
Earlier, Mahfoozur Rahman, the principal of the Government Tibbi College and Hospital where Dr Parveen is currently a second-year student, stated that the government had extended the joining deadline in this “special case.” However, he added that there was still no clear indication of what decision she would ultimately take.
Rahman also mentioned that Dr Parveen last attended college around December 17 or 18. According to him, she continues to have the option of either joining her assigned post or choosing to pursue higher education instead. As of now, her future course of action remains uncertain, even as the state government waits for her final decision.
