Patna: Worried over the death of more
than 100 patients due to the ongoing strike in Patna and
Darbhanga medical colleges, Bihar Human Rights commission
on Friday asked the state government to lodge an FIR and begin
legal action against striking junior doctors.
"The state government has been asked to initiate legal
action, including lodging an FIR against the striking doctors
and cancellation of their registration if they refuse to abide
by the commission's request to call off the 10-day-old strike
immediately," BHRC chairman Justice S N Jha told agency.
"It is a criminal neglect of one's duties towards the
society. Failure to abide by the notice to join by today
itself will lead to stern legal action," Jha said.
He said Principal Secretary of state health department
C K Mishra in a report to the commission informed that more
than 100 patients died during the strike since November 10 at
Patna Medical College and Hospital and Darbhanga Medical
College and Hospital.
"No coercive action will be taken if they join work
by now. Enough has been done and it could not be allowed to
linger this way," Jha said.
Meanwhile, the striking medicos softened their stand
seeking Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's intervention for ending
the stir.
Spokesman of Patna medical College Hospital Junior
Doctors' Association Taqi Imam said the strike would be
withdrawn if Chief Minister Nitish Kumar gave an assurance to
look into the demands.
"We leave everything to the Chief Minister. A word
of assurance from him will be sufficient and we will join work
without delay," Imam said.
The junior doctors had so far stuck to their demand of
a written assurance from the state government of fulfilling
its promise to hike the stipend from present Rs 13,000 to Rs
25,000 per month and introduction of residency scheme.
Jha said if the striking doctors resumed duties, the
commission would do the needful to ensure that the state
government takes a favourable decision on their demands.
PTI