Ranchi, June 2 (IANS) Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda Monday served a 48-hour ultimatum to striking contractual doctors in the state and asked them to return to their work. “The striking contractual doctors are given 48 hours’ time to return to their duties. If the doctors do not return to their duties, then suitable action will be taken against them,” Koda told reporters here.

The doctors in the state are on strike since May 26 to press their demand that their services be regularised. The doctors are also demanding that they be exempted from written examinations for appointment into the state’s health services.

The Jharkhand Public Service Commission (JPSC) has already initiated process to appoint 1,070 doctors in the state.

The state government has said that the contractual doctors would have to appear in written exam and interview but would be allowed a 10-mark preference and 10 years’ age relaxation in the recruitment process.

In 2003, a total of 1,800 doctors were appointed on contract. Due to indifferent attitude of the government nearly 1,200 doctors have already quit their jobs. Nearly 620 doctors are still working on contract in the state.

The Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) Jharkhand unit has supported the contract doctors’ demands.