Nearly 3,000 striking junior doctors working in six government medical colleges in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh resigned from their posts, officials said on Friday.
The doctors tendered resignations on Thursday after Madhya Pradesh high court described their protest as “illegal’’ and directed the doctors in the state to resume their duties within 24 hours.
“The government did not accept our demands but only gave us assurance, therefore, we did not end our strike.
“So far 3,000 junior doctors have submitted their resignations to the dean of their respective colleges,” Madhya Pradesh Junior Doctors Association (MPJDA) Secretary Ankita Tripathi said.
The doctors also announced that they will challenge the high court ruling.
The junior doctors, demanded a hike in stipend and free treatment for them and their families if they contract Coronavirus (COVID-19) and started an indefinite strike on Monday.
The court said in case the striking doctors do not resume duties within the set timeframe, the state government must take stern action against them.
The court condemned the junior doctors’ decision to go on a strike at the time of the ongoing pandemic and said such a step cannot be encouraged during a health crisis.
Earlier in the day, the high court at Jabalpur termed the statewide strike called by the JDA as illegal and directed the protesting junior doctors to return to work by 2.30 PM on Friday.
A division bench of Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq Ahmed and Justice Sujoy Paul said in case the striking doctors do not resume duties within the set timeframe, the state government must take stern action against them.
The bench condemned the JDA’s decision to go on a strike at the time of a pandemic and said such a step cant be encouraged during a health crisis.
The HC was hearing a petition against the strike filed by Jabalpur-based advocate Shailendra Singh.
Meanwhile, at a press conference in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh medical education commissioner Nishant Warwade said Minister of Medical Education Vishvas Sarang had met JDA representatives a number of times and taken several positive steps for resolving the matter.
Warwade said as per the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a 17 per cent increase in stipend of junior doctors has already been approved and soon orders to this effect will be issued.
Depending on the prevailing CPI, the stipend will be further enhanced, the senior bureaucrat said.
Besides hiking stipend, the government is also implementing medical insurance schemes for them, he said.
Like other officials and employees, ESMA (Essential Services Maintenance Act) is also applicable to doctors and it is expected the striking medicos will get back to treating patients which is their moral duty, Warwade said.
(Xinhua/NAN)
