4,500 Maha doctors call off strike on HC's intervention

Nearly 4,500 doctors across the state, who were on an indefinite strike since Sunday, today told the Bombay High Court that they are withdrawing their agitation with immediate effect.
The doctors went on a state-wide strike in response to a call given by Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) to extend support to JJ Hospital resident doctors who are demanding transfer of Dean Dr T P Lahane and his deputy for alleged harassment of doctors.
The doctors had gone on strike alleging that they were not allowed to perform operations and also protested against the Dean's behaviour towards them.
The HC was hearing a petition filed by social activist Afak Mandaviya who sought immediate withdrawal of strike by doctors as patients were put to hardship and ran the risk of losing their lives because of non-availability of medical services due to the agitation.

In view of the urgency of the matter, a bench of Justices Ranjit More and Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi today heard the matter in their chambers as the court was closed being a holiday.
The judges asked MARD to call off their strike forthwith in public interest so that patients do not suffer and get immediate medical treatment.

The bench also questioned the doctors and MARD from going on an indefinite strike without approaching the grievance redressal mechanism.
To this, MARD replied that they had not approached the grievance redressal mechanism because the JJ Hospital Dean Dr T P Lahane, against whom they were protesting, was part of the mechanism committee.

The doctors said they wanted an independent committee to hear their grievances and suggested the name of retired Chief Justice Mohit Shah or Retd Justice D K Deshmukh to chair the committee.
The doctors also demanded that other members of the committee should include MARD President and General Secretary, and Directorate of Medical Education.
The high court, while agreeing to their proposal, however, said they would first have to ascertain whether the retired judges suggested by them were available and ready to hear the matter.
Accordingly, the bench asked the High Court Registry to find out whether the retired judges were ready to hear the doctors and the government on the issue.

The matter has been posted for hearing on April 11.