AGARTALA, May 30 (TIWN/IANS) The Tripura High Court has directed government doctors to restrict their private practice to a maximum of three hours daily during working days, an official said here Saturday.

The high court said during holidays, the doctors can keep their private chambers open for a maximum of six hours daily.

The HC also banned government doctors from having any engagement with private hospitals, nursing homes and laboratories.

"The division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice Deepak Gupta and Justice Subhasish Talapatra in a judgement here on Friday asked the government doctors to run their private chamber for a maximum of three hours during working days.

"During holidays, they can operate their private chambers for a maximum of six hours," a health department official said.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official quoted court order stating on a patient's first visit, government doctors can charge them a maximum of Rs.200 as consultation fees. On the patient's second visit, doctors can charge upto Rs.100.

"Money receipt must be given to the patients," the order said.

The court suo moto took this case last year as the government doctors' private practice and their engagement with the private hospitals, nursing homes and laboratories is rampant in the state.

According to the health service rules, the government doctors can do private practice but they have been violating other restrictions stipulated in the rules, the official added.