Unrelenting junior doctors continue strike
HYDERABAD: There seems to be no end to the ongoing protests by the Telangana Junior Doctors' Association (TJUDA) as their strike against one-year mandatory rural service continued for the 32nd consecutive day on Thursday.
The month-long protests have shown no signs of easing and the junior doctors have been on a hunger relay strike for 15 days, as both parties have failed to reach an agreement.
On hearing arguments from both sides on Thursday, the High Court reserved its judgment. Nearly 1,000 junior doctors gathered at Indira Park soon after to continue their protests.
Accusing the Director, Medical Education, P Srinivas of false propaganda and telling lies to the court, TJUDA members remained defiant and determined more than ever.
'The government had told the court that this is a nationwide policy, which is completely untrue. This is a state policy, present only in Andhra Pradesh; they are spreading wrong information,' TJUDA president G Srinivas alleged.
'They also told the court that they were spending crores of rupees on junior doctors which is again false. They have so far spent only Rs 1.6 to 2 lakhs and we have proof of that,' an irked Srinivas added.
The government also urged the high court to persuade junior doctors to end their strike and termed it illegal. TJUDA members, however, insist that it is well within their right to protest. 'As per Supreme Court guidelines, anyone has the right to strike. How can they call our strike illegal,' he asked.
With the situation getting murkier by the day and with neither party willing to budge from their stance, there seems to be no clarity as to how long the strike will continue.
'We are not concerned about how long it will take as long as justice is served. We have declared an indefinite strike and it shall remain that way, until our demands are met,' Srinivas said.
However, DME Dr Putta Srinivas deemed their strike illegal and referred to GO 1022 issued by the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh government in August 2013.
GO 1022 prohibits protests of junior doctors, PG students, senior residents and house surgeons. 'All the days which the doctors have missed duty as a result of this strike will be marked absent and stipend will not be given for those days. If the strike continues, we will debar the students,' Dr Srinivas threatened.
News Posted: 31 October, 2014
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