The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Junior doctors call off strike

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Thursday, Dec 13, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Junior doctors call off strike

Legal Correspondent

Court records doctors’ undertaking; case posted for today

Photo: P.V. Sivakumar

Pensive posture: A senior doctor in a reflective mood passes by his junior colleagues who were on strike. The junior doctors later called off their stir on Wednesday in Hyderabad.

HYDERABAD: The Division Bench of the High Court comprising acting Chief Justice Bilal Nazki and Justice Ramesh Ranganathan on Wednesday recorded the undertaking given by junior doctors that they were calling off their 12-day-old strike and posted the case to Thursday to adjudicate the issues raised by them.

In accordance with Tuesday’s court orders, the junior doctors’ representatives appeared before the Bench on Wednesday and pleaded with the Bench to sympathetically consider the situation in which they were placed.

CJ’s condition

After hearing their plea, the acting Chief Justice said that once they withdraw the strike all issues would be adjudicated by the court the following day keeping in view the dignity of the medical profession.

The Bench made it clear that if the strike continued, the court will direct the Medical Council of India to take punitive action. It impressed upon them that doctors who save lives cannot go on strike.

The junior doctors’ representatives sought time till 1 p.m. and then till 2.15 p.m., when they said they were withdrawing the strike as the court had given them confidence about their safety. The case was listed for Thursday.

After the proceedings were over some youngsters could not hide their excitement and clapped in the court hall. The Bench took serious note and then asked them why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them.

Doctors return to work

Hyderabad Staff Reporter writes: Meanwhile, with the junior doctors giving an undertaking to call off their strike in the High Court, several medicos started to report back for their duties, while some more are expected to do so by Thursday morning.

Police officials also visited the hospital on Wednesday to chalk out specifics for posting SPF personnel at the hospital premises, authorities informed. The hospital was assured that 15 SPF members would be deployed.

“About five SPF members will work in three shifts at the hospital. Hopefully, this will solve the problem of security issue here,” informed Niloufer Hospital RMO Dr. K. Usha Rani.

Meeting today

After the High Court hearing, the medicos were closeted in a series of meetings to mull the turn of events that occurred on Wednesday. “We have decided to hold a general body meeting on Thursday afternoon to deliberate on the outcome.”

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