Thaindian News

Bhopal, Nov 16 (IANS) Junior doctors at a medical college in Gwalior called off their three-day strike even as doctors in four other districts continued with their protest Wednesday, officials said.

The move comes a day after the Gwalior bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court termed the strike “illegal”.

Junior doctors at the Government Jayarogya Medical College of Gwalior and their counterparts at Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur and Rewa government medical colleges have been demanding an increase in stipend, reduction in rural bond period from two years to one and the implementation of Doctors Protection Act.

Doctors of four medical colleges went on strike Monday while Bhopal’s junior doctors joined a day later.

Though the state government had imposed Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA), it could not deter the striking doctors and it soon started affecting the health services in government hospitals affiliated to medical colleges, leading to the intervention of high court.

The court had directed the striking doctors to return to work by 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

“Because of the order, the strike has been called off in Gwalior but we will take legal advice on the issue and see how court could be convinced,” Ashok Thakur, president of junior doctors association told reporters before getting arrested.

Soon, 15 more junior doctors were arrested in Jabalpur. On Tuesday, 90 striking doctors were arrested in Bhopal.