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After a viral hijab controversy involving CM Nitish Kumar, Ayush doctor Nusrat Parveen finally joined Bihar government service- 23 days late and on the last possible day. What happened behind the delay, and why didn’t she report to her assigned PHC?
Bihar doctor joins service 23 days after hijab row
Patna: Dr Nusrat Parveen, the Ayush doctor who came into the national spotlight after a controversial incident involving Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has finally joined government service. She reported for duty on Wednesday, 23 days after the incident, completing her joining formalities on the final day of an extended deadline granted by the state government.
Parveen was initially instructed to report for duty on December 20. However, she did not join on the scheduled date, prompting the authorities to extend the deadline first to December 31 and later to January 7. Officials confirmed that she completed the formal process on Wednesday, avoiding the risk of losing her appointment.
Dr. Parveen was posted to the Sabalpur Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Patna Sadar. However, officials clarified that she did not report directly to the PHC. Vijay Kumar, the PHC surgeon, confirmed that Parveen chose to complete her joining formalities at the department level instead of reporting to the health centre.
Earlier, sources within the health department had indicated that failure to report within the extended deadline could result in the cancellation of her appointment, adding pressure amid the ongoing controversy.
The controversy dates back to December 15, when Ayush doctors gathered at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Patna to receive their appointment letters. During the ceremony, Dr. Parveen appeared wearing a naqab. As she stepped forward, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar reportedly questioned her attire, asking, “What is this?” before removing her veil himself.
A video of the moment quickly went viral on social media, triggering sharp political reactions and widespread criticism. Several leaders and civil society members condemned the act, calling it an infringement on personal freedom and religious expression. The incident dominated national discourse for days, with debates centering on individual rights and the conduct expected from public officials.
Following the incident, there was uncertainty over whether Dr. Parveen would take up her government posting or continue her medical education. Mahfoozur Rahman, principal of the Government Tibbi College and Hospital where Parveen is a second-year student had earlier confirmed that the government extended her joining deadline considering it a “special case.”
Rahman stated that Parveen last attended college around December 17 or 18 and still had the option to either join service or pursue higher studies. With her joining now confirmed, that uncertainty has come to an end.
