SRN junior doctors call off strike

JUNIOR DOCTORS of Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital called off their strike late on Monday evening after they were assured by Inspector General of Police Subrat Tripathi of fair investigation into Sunday?s incident in which cross FIRs were filed. The junior doctors had struck work following filing of FIR against them by attendants of patients. Earlier in the day, the Allahabad High Court took a serious note of the junior doctors? strike.

JUNIOR DOCTORS of Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital called off their strike late on Monday evening after they were assured by Inspector General of Police Subrat Tripathi of fair investigation into Sunday’s incident in which cross FIRs were filed.

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The junior doctors had struck work following filing of FIR against them by attendants of patients.

Earlier in the day, the Allahabad High Court took a serious note of the junior doctors’ strike.

The court also directed the Junior Doctors’ Association to submit an explanation within a week as to why they decided to strike work when the court had clearly mandated earlier that the strike should not affect the functioning of hospitals, whatever be the reason.

The court said, “We shall not allow such incidents to go without fixing any responsibility.’

The SRN is an associated hospital of the Moti Lal Nehru Medical College. The court directed the principal of the medical college that either he himself should conduct an inquiry into the matter, or he should get it done by a committee of the senior-most professors of the college and submit a report within one week.

Passing these orders, a HC division bench comprising Justice Sunil Ambwani and Justice Dilip Gupta observed: “We make it clear that anyone found responsible, after affording opportunity, shall have to face contempt proceedings and the consequence including prosecution or expulsion of those students who resorted to violence in the hospital and declared to go on to strike.’’

The court directed that the matter would be taken up on October 27 at 2 pm.

The court passed these directives on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) ligitation filed by Satish Chaturvedi.

The court further said, “On the previous occasion, we had directed that the teachers, junior doctors or the employees of the medical college and its associated hospitals did not have any right to go on strike.

“Now, we are disturbed to learn that once again, due to two unfortunate incidents, the junior doctors have decided to go on strike.

“The reports were confirmed today (on Monday) in the Court. We are also informed that the junior doctors did not allow OPD to function today,’’ the Court said.

During the court proceeding, advocate general, SMA Kazmi, appeared on behalf of the State. Besides, senior advocate, Shashi Nandan appeared on behalf of some of the doctors.

PS Baghel and Ratnakar Bharti appeared on behalf of the Allahabad University.
Earlier, the High Court had declared that the strike by junior doctors or any employees affecting the functioning of the hospitals in the State would be treated ‘illegal’.

Any person disobeying this would not only incur punishment under the Indian Penal Code, but also face contempt of court for violating the HC order.

The court had also directed that as and when the report of the strike in any hospital is given to the district magistrate/senior superintendent of police of that district, they shall immediately act upon the notice and arrest all those persons responsible for closing the hospital facilities. This order shall be strictly carried out. The court had also said, “We failed to understand as to how medical students can resort to strike which may affect the functioning of the hospital.

The student, who strike the work of the hospitals, do not deserve to be doctors.’’