AIIMS strike called off even as High Court begins hearing

New Delhi, Aug 30 (UNI) Minutes after the Delhi High Court took cognizance of the situation in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) where doctors had gone on strike in protest against Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss' ''attitude'' towards them, and directed the Union government to take steps to resolve the situation, the agitation was withdrawn.

A bench comprising Chief Justice M K Sharma and Justice Sanjiv Khanna directed Additional Solicitor General V K Tondon, who was present in the court, to ensure the Union Government sorts out the matter with the agitating doctors in AIIMS and persuade them to call off the strike, otherwise action would be taken against them.

Pursuant to the orders of the High Court, the doctors called off the strike and the situation returned to normal.

Advocate Ashok Agarwal, representing a non-govermental organisation (NGO) told the court about the ''grim situation'' at AIIMS hospital, where the doctors had gone on strike because the Minister had not signed their degrees, due to which they were unable to pursue their careers.

They alleged that Dr Ramadoss, who is also the head of AIIMS, has no time for adminstrative work and their degrees are lying in his office for the past one year for signature.

UNI