In India, approximately 3,000 doctors have resigned after a court tried to block them from going on a strike. The High Court in Madhya Pradesh on Thursday said that a central Indian state has termed the 4-days strike of junior doctors as “illegal” and instructed them to return to their duties by Friday afternoon. But the rebellious doctors resigned from their respective posts and declared their plans of challenging the ruling.

Dr Arvind Meena, Madhya Pradesh Junior Doctors Association (MPJDA) President said that approximately 3,000 junior doctors who were working in the six government medical colleges had resigned en masse. They have also submitted their resignations to the dean of their respective colleges.

He also said that junior as well as senior doctors of other states such Bihar, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Maharashtra and others have supported their strike.

Dr Meena said they will approach the Supreme Court of India against the decision of Madhya Pradesh High Court and appealed that members of the Medical Officers Association and the Federation of Resident Doctors Association will also join their strike.

On Monday, the doctors started their strike and said that it will continue till all their demands are not fulfilled. The junior doctors have several demands that include a hike in stipend and free COVID-19 treatment for themselves and their families.

But the court had condemned their decision for going on strike in the current situation of COVID-19 and also said that the government should take strict action if doctors fail to resume their respective duties.

Dr Meena said that on 6^th May they were promised by the state government of fulfilling their demand but nothing happened till now so they were forced to stop the work. The government had decided to give them a hike in their stipend by 17 per cent but the strike will continue till the government raises it by 24 per cent, as promised.

Source: Independent