Patna: An Ayush doctor whose appointment became embroiled in a controversy over religious attire has joined her post in Bihar, 23 days after the incident that thrust her into the national spotlight.
Nusrat Parveen, appointed as an Ayush doctor, reported for duty on Wednesday, the final day of an extended joining deadline. Officials confirmed that she completed the formalities directly with the department rather than reporting first to the civil surgeon’s office, amid sustained public and political attention surrounding her case.
The original deadline for joining was December 20. It was first extended to December 31 and later to January 7, making Tuesday her last opportunity to take up the post.
Parveen’s appointment drew widespread attention on December 15 during a public ceremony at which Nitish Kumar was distributing appointment letters to newly selected Ayush doctors. During the event, the chief minister questioned Parveen about her hijab and removed it himself, an act that was captured on video and circulated widely on social media.
The footage showed Parveen appearing visibly uncomfortable as the incident unfolded, while some in the audience were seen reacting with laughter. Samrat Choudhary was also seen attempting to intervene during the exchange.
Following the episode, Parveen did not make any public appearances, and her whereabouts remained unknown for several weeks. The silence prompted criticism from opposition parties, civil society groups and medical associations, who questioned the conduct of officials and raised concerns over dignity, consent and workplace safety.
Under standard procedure, Ayush doctors receive appointment letters from the department, which are then submitted to the civil surgeon’s office for document verification and posting to a community health centre. Officials said Parveen’s joining process was completed within departmental norms, though additional discretion was exercised given the circumstances.
