LUCKNOW: Taking a tough stand to maintain health services in Uttar Pradesh, the State Government on Thursday clamped the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against the junior doctors of seven U.P. medical colleges who have been on strike since this past Monday.

State Chief Secretary R. Ramani announced here that ESMA had been invoked declaring the strike illegal and the doctors had been given time till 10 a.m. on Friday to join duties.

``The Government will not hesitate to take any action against the striking resident doctors including their arrest under the National Security Act (NSA) and dismissal from service if they do not join duties on Friday,'' he told media persons here.

Meanwhile, the Government had chalked out a contingency plan to deal with the situation even if the doctors continued their strike with doctors of the Provincial Medical Services (PMS) having been asked to perform duties at the medical colleges.

State Principal Secretary (Home) Alok Sinha said additional companies of PAC along with civil police had been deployed in all the seven medical colleges to provide security to senior doctors, who are running the hospitals at present.

Mr Sinha said the doctors had also been asked not to keep any outsiders in their hostel rooms as inspections would be made at any time to flush out illegal occupants.

``The Government would also deal strictly with people, who incite doctors for the strike,'' he added.

Even as Mr. Sinha said an inquiry by the Inspector-General of Police (Training) was under way into Sunday night's incident aboard the Allahabad-bound Nauchandi Express, medical services remained paralysed for the fourth day at Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Allahabad, Meerut, Jhansi and other places as the doctors boycotted work. With report of two more deaths, the death toll due to lack of proper medical intervention following closure of emergency services has gone up to six. - UNI/ PTI

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