HC issues notices to Centre, Delhi govt on medicos strike

New Delhi, May 23 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today issued notices to the Centre, Delhi government and Medical Council of India (MCI), on a PIL seeking directions to the striking doctors to resume their work immediately.

A division bench headed by acting Chief Justice Vijender Jain, asked the respondents to file their reply by June 1, the next date of hearing.

The SC and ST Medical Association, in the petition, prayed that the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) should be invoked the strike declared illegal.

The doctors all over the country are on strike opposing the Government's decision to reserve seats in educational institutions for the OBC students.

Counsel Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the Association, submitted that appropriate disciplinary action should be initiated against the striking doctors under service rules.

Since April 27, the students and interns from five medical colleges in Delhi are on an indefinite strike in protest against a proposal by the Government to increase the quota for reservation of the OBC in IITs, IIMs, centrally-funded unversities and other educational institutions increasing the quota to about 50 percent, said the petition.

In 2002, the High Court had taken suo mottu notice of the strike by the AIIMS resident doctors and held that the employees of the premier institution could not resort to strike, the petition said.

''The Court held that the Right to Life under the Article 21 included the right against denial of treatment or even being prevented form availing the services of any doctor or any other member of the staff from attending to patients and rendering medical assistance to them,'' said Mr Bhusan in the petition.

Moreover, Code of Ethics Regulations, 2002 of the MCI says that a physician shall uphold the dignity and honour of his profession; and the prime object of the medical profession is to render service to humanity, the petition added.

The petition also prayed for directions to the government for initiation criminal proceedings against those who were coercing the SC and ST doctors to join the strike.

UNI PAT VD RS1803