College principal to conduct inquiry into jr doctors strike: HC

Allahabad, Oct 9 (UNI) Allahabad High Court today asked the principal of Moti Lal Nehru Medical College to conduct an immediate inquiry himself or through the committee of senior most professors of the college and submit the report within a week on the issue of strike of junior doctors in Swarooprani Nehru (SRN) Hospital here.

A bench comprising Justices S Ambwani and Dilip Gupta, after passing the order, made it clear the guilty would have to face contempt proceedings and consequences including prosecution and expulsion of students, who resorted to violence in SRN hospital and went on strike.

Passing the order on a writ petition filed by Satish Chaturvedi, the court further said the junior doctors would have to explain to the court the reason why they resorted to strike, when the court had already mandated that strike shall not affect the functioning of the hospitals whatever the reason might be.

The junior doctors of SRN hospital have been asked to submit their explanation withing a week. The court will hear this case on October 27.

The court passed this order when it was informed that the junior doctors of the hospital have decided to go on strike. The report was confirmed by the judges today itself in the court. It was informed that the junior doctors today did not allow OPD to function.

On the previous occasion, the same bench had said the teachers, junior doctors or employees of medical colleges and its associated hospitals do not have any right to go on a strike.

The court declared the strike in the state as illegal and said disobediance of the same by any doctor would be punishable under Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Contempt of Courts Act.

UNI XC ATI VS VD ND2002