After HC's security assurance, Maharashtra doctors hint at resuming work

HC asked doctors to give some time to govt for providing proper security

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) on Thursday asserted that the doctors on strike are ready to join as the Bombay High Court has assured to provide armed police personnel for their security.

"The court has requested the doctors to join back to services and simultaneously directed the state government to allow only one attendant of the patient and appoint armed police personnel at the main gate of the respective wards of the hospital," Rahul Rotala, the lawyer representing MARD, told ANI.

"Doctors are ready to join their duties once the state government implements the court's undertakings for their security," he added.

The Bombay High Court earlier in the day ordered the doctors on strike to resume their duties and give some time to the government for providing them proper security.

The High Court also ordered the state government to provide security at all government hospitals so that the doctors can work without fear.

The High Court ordered that no punitive action should be taken against the protesting doctors once they resume their duties.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has requested the resident doctors to withdraw their strike immediately and ensured them security.

The strike by Maharashtra's doctors, who are protesting a spate of assaults on colleagues by patients' relatives, entered the fourth day today even as nearly 2,000 of them got expulsion notice a day ago.

The agitators said patients are usually accompanied by a large number of relatives, which puts pressure on them. They have demanded adequate security measures and a pass system, where not more than two relatives will be allowed to remain with a patient inside the ward.

In the intervening time, thousands of patients have been left to suffer and bear inconvenience at public hospitals due to the protest.