High Court warns junior doctors of arrest

Hyderabad, Dec 11 (UNI) A Division Bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court today warned serious action against junior doctors, including arrest of J V Raju and recommendation to the Medical Council of India (MCI) to cancel their degrees.

When a Public Interest Litigation questioning the legitimacy of the junior doctors' strike came up for hearing, the Bench comprising acting Chief Justice Bilal Nazki and Mr Justice Ramesh Ranganathan, enquired about Mr Raju, the representative of the Junior Doctors Association (JUDA). The Advocate-General informed the court that the representatives were in confabulation with the state government.

The Advocate-General said the JUDA representatives could be in the chamber of Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy or at Health Minister's office and requested the court to adjourn the hearing for tomorrow.

He informed the court that the government had conceded almost all the legitimate demands of the doctors and they may resume duty anytime.

Dissatisfied with the reply, Justice Nazki insisted that once the court had directed Mr Raju to be present before the court, he had to appear. No lame excuses would be accepted, he said and ordered that Mr Raju appear before it tomorrow at 1030 hours.

UNI