West Bengal govt orders probe into worker’s HIV discrimination, unpaid dues allegations

West Bengal Health Minister Sharadwat Mukherjee ordered an inquiry after a temporary worker at Ghatal government hospital alleged he was removed after being diagnosed HIV-positive and denied wages. The minister said HIV-based discrimination would not be tolerated and promised action if allegations are proved

Kolkata: West Bengal Health Minister Dr Sharadwat Mukherjee on Monday ordered an inquiry into a health worker’s allegation that he was removed from his job at a government hospital after being found HIV-positive and was not paid his dues for work done over several years.

The worker, who was engaged as a temporary employee at the Ghatal government hospital, has alleged that he was stopped from attending work in January this year despite having been declared fit to work by the hospital authorities.

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Mukherjee, who came to know of the complaint after the change of government, said discrimination on the basis of HIV status would not be tolerated and assured that appropriate action would be taken if the allegations were found to be true.

“This kind of discrimination cannot be tolerated. The allegations will be examined and, if they are found to be true, appropriate action will be taken against those responsible,” the minister said. The worker has claimed that he had been working as a sweeper at the hospital since 1996 and was later assigned the task of delivering medicines to wards as a temporary employee.

He was diagnosed with HIV in 2007 and underwent treatment. According to his account, hospital authorities had subsequently informed him that his condition did not prevent him from performing his duties and had also issued him a fitness certificate.

He has alleged that hospital authorities stopped him from reporting for work in January this year. The worker has claimed that he had earlier approached the state secretariat and the Health Department with his complaints but claimed that no action was taken.

He has further alleged that he worked between 2022 and December 2025 but received only Rs 600 as remuneration during the period. The worker has also claimed that he had applied for regularisation after the previous state government issued guidelines in 2024 concerning the regularisation of temporary workers in government hospitals.

The circumstances surrounding his removal from service, his alleged pending dues and his claim that his HIV status was a factor in the decision are being examined, officials said.

The worker is the sole earning member of his family and supports his wife and two daughters, according to his complaint. The Health Department is expected to seek records from the Ghatal hospital and examine the circumstances under which the worker was stopped from attending duty and the payments made to him.