The Kerala High court today directed the state government to file a counter within 10 days on a writ petition by specialist doctors, challenging the newly introduced special rules.

Advocate General C P Sudhakara Prasad informed the court that defects in the transfer and posting list had been rectified and a new list published by the government.

Justice Antony Dominic, before whom the petition came up, then directed the government to file their counter in 10 days.

The High court had earlier directed the state government to maintain status quo in respect of transfers and postings of specialist cadre doctors.

Alleging anamolies in the seniority list published, the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association had urged members not to accept relieving orders, following which District Medical Officers were asked to relieve the doctors imemdiately. Most of the doctors had opted for long leave instead of joining duties to their place of posting, causing hardships to patients.