HC Prohibits Doctors from Going on Strike
Patna: Dec. 4, 2007
For the umpteenth time in last few years, the Patna High Court came to the rescue of the people of Bihar by stepping between the state government and the medical professionals to order a ban on the strike that the doctors had been threatening to go on to press for their demands.
Acting Chief Justice Narayan Rai and Justice Kishore Kumar Mandal, after hearing arguments from the representatives of the state government and the medical doctors on Tuesday, put a ban on the strike while directing the two warring factions to the negotiation table asking them to reconsider each others' stands in full earnest.
The court was hearing on the issue after the state Attorney General P. K. Shahi appealed to it to intervene in the issue and prevent doctors from going on a strike in the greater interest of the people of Bihar.
The next date of hearing has been set for December 18.
Shahi informed the court that the government was seriously considering the demands of the doctors but resented the fact that it was being held hostage by their confrontational attitude and utter disregard for the welfare of the patients.
Meanwhile, the members of the Bihar State Health Services Association, while agreeing to defer their strike till December 18, categorically rejected the Central government's suggestion to submit written promise not to engage in private practice.
"The laws already prevent government doctors from engaging in private practice so why demand for a written guarantee," Dr. Ajay Kumar said.
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