Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow
Lucknow, Mar 21: The Uttar Pradesh government has announced March 22 as the date for distributing appointment letters to newly selected nursing officers, following mounting protests and growing public attention over the delay.
The appointment letters will be handed over at a function at Lok Bhavan in Lucknow, where Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is scheduled to personally distribute them. Necessary directions for organising the event have been issued by Additional Chief Secretary Amit Kumar Ghosh.
The announcement comes after sustained protests by candidates selected through the Uttar Pradesh Public Service Commission Staff Nurse (Nursing Officer) Allopathy 2023 recruitment. A large number of candidates, many of them women, had repeatedly approached the Directorate of Health and even the residence of Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Brajesh Pathak, demanding issuance of their appointment letters.
In one instance, over 150 candidates gathered and surrounded the health directorate, while on another occasion, they were stopped at the gates of Jawahar Bhavan and denied entry, with only a few being allowed inside after repeated appeals.
Candidates alleged that despite multiple assurances and promised timelines, the appointment letters were repeatedly delayed. The prolonged wait pushed many into financial and emotional distress, with several stating they had resigned from private jobs after clearing the examination in anticipation of joining government service.
“It has been nearly 10 months, and we still have no appointment letters. We are unemployed despite clearing all stages,” a candidate said.
Others highlighted social and financial pressures, with some travelling long distances under difficult conditions to follow up on their appointments. The candidates had also written to the Directorate General of Medical Education and Training, urging authorities to announce a definite timeline.
According to officials, the recruitment process had largely been completed months ago. The preliminary examination was conducted in December 2023, followed by the main examination in July 2024, with results declared in March 2025.
Document verification of 1,276 women and 160 male candidates was completed in April 2025, while scrutiny of certificates concluded between August and November 2025. Medical colleges were allotted on November 23, 2025.
Despite completion of all formalities, no confirmed date for issuing appointment letters had been announced until now. Officials had earlier indicated that letters would be issued soon, but the delay continued, drawing criticism after media reports highlighted the issue.
With the March 22 event now scheduled, candidates are expected to finally receive their appointment letters and commence their duties.