SC gets tough with medicos

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court warned striking medicos On Tuesday that their continued protests may be seen as contempt of court.

Expressing concern for patients who cannot afford private medical care, the court had on Monday appealed to the medicos to end their strike against increased quotas in higher education institutions.

Seeing that their appeal had fallen on deaf ears, the Bench of Justices Arijit Pasayat and LS Panta inquired from Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium why medicos were continuing their stir despite the matter being ‘subjudice’ as of Monday.

“We are told that they (medicos, interns and anti- quota doctors) are continuing with the strike. If they are over-reaching our orders, they are in for a surprise. It can amount to contempt,” warned the Bench.

It said the issue of quota was now secondary to the concern for patients.  “Ultimately, people waiting to get treated at hospitals are affected,” the judges said.

While the agitators are seeking legal opinion to decide whether a continuation of their stir could lead to a confrontation with the apex court, the court itself reminded them of two judgments that prohibit making speeches, holding demonstrations and observing strikes on an issue that’s been seized by a court.