Complaining that the Government was taking punitive action against the doctors who took part in anti-quota stir, the Resident Doctors Associations of AIIMS and Maulana Azad Medical College on Friday moved the Supreme Court. They sought direction to the authorities to ensure that their salaries
for the strike period were not deducted.
In an application filed in the court, they also sought the leave of internship and residency during the strike period (i.e. May 14 and June 3, 2006) be condoned so that they were not rendered ineligible to appear in the coming PG Entrance and MD examinations.
The Government was taking punitive action despite an assurance to the contrary, the doctors said urging the court to direct the authorities to withdraw forthwith all other punitive actions like leave deduction and break in service.
They drew the court's attention to the assurance given by the Prime Minister on May 28 that "no action will be taken against the agitating students, interns and resident doctors in any form as regards service break, termination, pay deduction, legal notice etc."
Thereafter, a similar assurance was given by the Additional Solicitor General to the court on May 31, they pointed out the court had ordered "in case the strikes etc. are called off, as directed.
An AIIMS office note dated June 6 said the doctors may be released salary but on June 12 the Ministry of Health asked AIIMS Registrar to apply "no work no pay" rule.