Rajasthan High Court allows Vasundhara Raje govt to tackle doctors’ strike

Evoking restriction on arrest of agitating doctors, the Rajasthan High Court on Monday extended a free hand to the state government for tackling the strike of government doctors. The court has previously ordered a hold on the arrest while instructing them to resume duties. However, the previous orders were revoked at a special hearing called on public holiday of Christmas in consideration of an instant petition moved in public interest. 

“The strike of doctors is illegal,” held the court in its order on Monday. “The state authorities would be entitled to proceed ahead in accordance with law, which obviously would mean that since RESMA has been invoked, the striking doctors can be apprehended.” 

State health department had submitted at the court that 50 per cent of the in-service doctors have been boycotting duty following the strike. It was prompt to issue a 24-hour notice to the doctors to return to work in light of the court orders.  

Doctors at Rajasthan have been on strike since  December 16 following transfer of office bearers of All Rajasthan In-Service Doctors. The doctors body held it suppression and violation of a previous agreement between doctors and the state health department. However, as thousands of doctors refrained from duty and private hospitals warned to keep services suspended for a day, the strike had pose to put public health at risk. 

 In consideration of the possibility of a total health shutdown, advocate Abhinav Sharma moved a petition ahead of chief justice of Rajasthan Pradeep Nandrajog requesting immediate intervention.