SC lambasts govt for not paying salary to doctors

New Delhi, Jul 5 (UNI) The Supreme Court today lambasted the Union government for not paying salary to the doctors who participated in the strike against the reservation policy of the government on the principle of ''no work, no pay''.

A bench comprising Mr Justice Arijit Pasayat and Mr Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta also told the government to reconsider its decision of not paying salary to doctors for the strike period. The court also said, ''the government should behave like a model employer.'' The court also reminded the government of its attitude when the medicos strike was on, saying ''when the strike was on, the government was on its knees. Till May 28, the government did not remember the principle of no work, no pay.'' Solicitor General G E Vahanwati told the court that he would seek instructions from the Union Health Ministry and sought time for the same.

The court adjourned the matter till July 17 and told the government to take a decision by then.

The court also told the government that it was behaving like Jekyll and Hyde.

It may be noted here that the resident doctors associations of AIIMS and MAMC (Moulana Azad Medical College) had filed an application in the court for directions to the government not to deduct the salary of the doctors who participated in the strike.

The doctors had referred to the directions issued by this court on May 31 that no-punitive action would be taken against the medicos who participated in the strike while directing the doctors to call off their strike forthwith and to restore the health services throughout the country forthwith.

The doctors have also contended in their application that if their salaries were being deducted, they should be paid overtime for working from 36 to 48 at a stretch in case of emergency.

UNI AKS/SC PK VA DS1226