Court grants interim relief to 42 striking doctors

Mumbai, Mar 6 (UNI) A local court today granted interim relief (from arrest) till Wednesday to 42 striking resident doctors who are on strike along with their colleagues since February 27 in support of their demands, including a hike in their stipends.

Additional Sessions Judge A Mhaske granted interim relief while hearing the anticipatory bail applications of the 42 striking doctors, who are among the 962 resident doctors who have been served termination notice under the Medical Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) by the government According to Advocate Raghuraj Deshpande, action under MESMA is non-bailable and hence they have moved the court for anticipatory bail. The court has given relief till Wednesday.

The doctors went on strike from February 27 after two of them--Dr Rohan Ainchwar and Dr Meena Parikh of KEM and Bhaba (Bandra) Hospitals respectively--were beaten up by relatives of patients.

UNI ST KD AD HT2007