Supreme Court Orders Striking Medicos To Call Off Agitation Immediate

The Supreme Court Wednesday ordered striking medicos to immediately call off their 20-day agitation against a new reservation policy , and resume work within three days.

The court - which accepted a petition from the striking medicos - also warned that strong action will be taken if its orders are not implemented.

"We direct that all strikes, protests and demonstrations or any form of dissent should be called off forthwith," a vacation bench comprising Justice L.S. Panta and Justice Arijit Pasayat said.

The medicos have been on a strike from May 12 to protest the government's new proposal to reserve 27 percent seats for other backward classes (OBCs) in institutions of higher education.

The court order came even as out-patient departments (OPDs) in government hospitals and several private healthcare units remained shut following a strike call by doctors.

Soon after, personnel of the Rapid action Force were deployed in large numbers at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) that has been the hub for protesting students and medicos for the past 20 days.

Students said they would be holding a general body meeting to study the fallout of the apex court order before taking an informed decision.

In their petition to the court Wednesday, they urged a stay on the government's proposed policy till the judiciary resolved the matter, keeping in view the interests of all concerned.

--Edited IANS