The Bombay high court came down heavily on Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (Mard) when it was informed that seven doctors of JJ Hospital had absented themselves without informing the senio
The Bombay high court came down heavily on Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (Mard) when it was informed that seven doctors of JJ Hospital had absented themselves without informing the seniors concerned. A division bench of Justice Abhay S. Oka and Justice A.A. Sayed directed Mard to resume duty immediately.
“Mard has given an undertaking to this court that it will not go on strike till the matter is pending in the high court; today, seven of your doctors voluntarily decided to remain absent from duty; it is a gross violation of our orders,” said Justice Oka.
The high court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by activist Afaq Mandviya who had challenged a strike, earlier this year, by members of Mard. Earlier, Mard’s lawyer argued that the government had failed to provide adequate security to its resident doctors to protect them from physical assaults by relatives of ailing patients who are not satisfied with their treatment.
On Friday, additional public prosecutor Milind More informed the court that seven doctors of JJ Hospital had been absent on Friday because the head of a department allegedly slapped a practising doctor.
“We are investigating the matter, but mass absenteeism will amount to contempt of court. Doctors have submitted their complaint with the dean of JJ Hospital; now, they should join duty,” said Mr More.
He said that in July, doctors were assaulted in Aurangabad and Pune and the police had arrested the assaulters immediately. The government is leaving no stone unturned to protect its doctors, Mr More added.
However, Mard’s lawyer informed the court that though the state government had set up a committee to look into the matter, it had not held a single meeting.
After hearing the arguments, the court said, “You can’t hide your mistakes under government inaction; all your doctors should resume duty first.”
The court has asked the state government to submit minutes of the meeting and the inquiry report into the recent attacks on doctors at Aurangabad, Pune and Mumbai. The court also asked Mard to submit its side in a written format in the next hearing. The court has posted the matter for hearing on September 2.
