Supreme Court orders doctors to end strikes

Supreme Court orders doctors to end strikes

NDTV Correspondent

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Tuesday, May 30, 2006 (New Delhi):

The Supreme Court has ordered doctors to end more than two weeks of anti-reservation strikes or face contempt of court charges.

It said the strikes should be called off in the interest of patients and told the government to report on the status of the protests by Wednesday.

The court on Monday asked the Central government to explain on what basis it announced OBC quotas in higher education.

The comments came as the court admitted petitions against reservations but refused to order a stay.

After a brief meeting doctors said they will consult their lawyers before announcing their decision in the wake of the development.

Meanwhile, President A P J Abdul Kalam has asked the government to keep the creamy layer out of the OBC quota in institutions of higher education.

The President conveyed this to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a hour long one-to-one meeting last weekend.

Protests

Earlier in the day, before the apex court's ultimatum, students intensified their protests. The faculty at AIIMS were holding a 24-hour strike against reservations.

And reports said about 1000 students from Delhi University were also holding a rally against the quota plan.

In Gujarat, the Ahmedabad Medical Association is holding a rally. About 5000 private clinics, dispensaries and hospitals also remain closed.

The Indian Dental Association is holding demonstration in Ahmedabad as well, with over 400 doctors in four municipal corporations on strike.

In Chandigarh, traders, doctors and chemists are observing a protest shutdown and doctors reportedly set fire to their MBBS degrees in protest.

Separately, the Oversight Committee is holding its first meeting on Tuesday to find a solution to the reservation issue.

The Committee was appointed by the Central government under Veerappa Moily as its chairman.