HC tells Maha docs to join duty by 8am

The Bombay high court on Thursday gave an ultimatum to the striking resident doctors by ordering them to resume duty on Saturday by 8 am or face action. The HC said that if the doctors do not resume then the state and hospital management is free to take stern action against them. A division bench of Chief Justice Manjulla Chellur and Justice Girish Kulkarni was hearing a petition filed by activist Afak Mandaviya.

According to Mr Mandaviya, doctors going on frequent strikes affects lakhs of patients across the state. The petitioner had sought the HC’s intervention to resolve the issue of doctors as well as their strike. On Thursday, the HC had directed the doctors to join duty with immediate effect and settle the matter amicably with the state. However, a majority of the resident doctors continued to go on mass leave despite the court order.

On Friday, petitioner’s lawyer Dutta Mane informed the court that despite the HC direction, several resident doctors were still on mass leave and protesting outside hospitals. After hearing this, the court said, “Yesterday, we listened to all your (doctors) contentions and understood your problems. Showing sympathy to you (doctors) we directed the hospital managements and state not to take punitive action against you but still you have not withdrawn (strike), you have taken undue advantage of our sympathy.” The court added, “I think we have done a mistake yesterday by showing you sympathy and appreciating your work.”

Around 4,000 resident doctors of the state and civic-rum hospitals have been on mass leave since Monday. Some of the striking doctors have already resumed their duties.