SC appeals to medicos to resume duty; protests continue

New Delhi, May 30 (UNI) Notwithstanding the Supreme Court's appeal to the medicos to resume duty in the larger interest of the public, protests against the Centre's proposed 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in institutions of higher education continued for the 17th day today while the government vowed to restore normalcy in hospitals hit by the agitation.

The Supreme Court, while assuring agitating doctors that it will take care of the concerns of all the parties on the issue of reservation for OBCs in educational institutions, asked them to go back to work.

''There are two judgments of this court which say that if the court is seized of a matter delivering of speeches, holding demonstrations and resorting to strike could amount to contempt of court. And we can go to that extent,'' the court observed.

At this stage we are not concerned with the government policy in this regard but with the people awaiting treatment at various hospitals. They cannot be denied treatment, the court added.

It has directed the Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanyam to file a memorandum detailing latest developments on the ongoing agitation by the medicos.

Health Minister Ambumoni Ramdoss ruled out invoking ESMA to deal with doctors' agitation on the reservation issue but said that the govenrment would take all action to restore normalcy in hospitals.

Dr Ramdoss met Prime Minister and discussed the situation arising from the doctors' agitation.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Dr Ramdoss said that the Prime Minister was ''disheartened'' at the response of the agitating doctors who rejected his appeal.

He said that despite the government making all efforts including talks of the Prime Minister with the agitating doctors, they have not seen reason. Now even the courts have asked the agitating doctors to join work, but they have not heeded.

Meanwhile, 'parallel' OPDs resumed at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences even as its facility members began a hunger strike without disturbing work and students from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, and Jawaharlal Nehru University joined forces with the medicos.

A rally was held at the Deendayal Upadhyay Hospital here this morning.

The Delhi Medical Association (DMA) said it was not withdrawing its call for a complete shut-down of medical services in the capital tomorrow.

''We have not received any notice from the court in this regard.

Our call to the medical fraternity to go on a complete medical bandh tomorrow in support of the agitating students and doctors stands,'' Delhi Medical Association President K K Kapur said.

The DMA called upon all its member institutions, nursing homes, clinics, laboratories and individual members to close their OPDs and planned surgeries tomorrow.

MORE UNI Team MA BD1815