1. Petitioner, a Head Nurse working in the Taluk Head Quarters Hospital, Thirroorangadi in the Health Services Department of the State has approached this Court with the grievance that she is required to do continuous duty for 14 hours at a stretch for 6 days consecutively.

2. A few facts may be noticed. The strength of the nursing staff in Govt. Taluk Head Quarters Hospital, Thirrorangadi is 44, out of which 36 Nurses are Staff Nurses and 8 are Head Nurses. 4 Staff Nurses are working in other hospitals on working agreements. Similarly 2 Head Nurses are working in other hospitals. The strength of the Nursing Staff in the above hospital is thus reduced to 30. Government have introduced shift system in some of the Government Hospitals. Since shift system is not introduced in the Govt. Taluk Head Quarters Hospital, Thirroorangadi, members of the Nursing Staff are compelled to work for 14 hours a day at a stretch. Petitioner is working 14 hours a day and she is allowed to avail only one day off in a week. She has averred in the O.P. that 'the work of nursing, especially in Government Hospitals, is arduous in nature' and therefore long hours of continuous duty is too harsh an