Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, May 6: The High Court on Tuesday May 5 clarified that it has not restrained the concerned authorities from allowing the striking junior doctors to report back to work. At the same time, it asked the government to take stern action against the junior doctors who continue to agitate.

The vacation bench of the High Court headed by Justice N Kumar asked the concerned not to wrongly interpret the court order that directed the government to take action against the striking doctors, as stopping the doctors concerned from rejoining their duties. It clarified, that the government enjoys the right to take action against doctors who opt to continue with their defiant stance on the issue. The clarification came, when advocate general Ashok Harnahalli informed the court that in tune with the court orders, the doctors would not be allowed to report for work.

In the affidavits furnished to the court in tune with the High Court order on Tuesday, the government said it spends Rs 20 lac per student for medical degree and Rs 50 lac per candidate for post-graduate medical education, whereas it recovers only Rs 14,000 from them per year in the form of fee. Suitable action would be taken against the junior doctors after the principals of the concerned colleges to whom they are attached, who have issued show-cause notices to them, send their reports to the government. The government also said it would consider the demands of the junior doctors after the code of conduct ceases on May 17.

The court in the meantime, has directed Karnataka State Junior Medical Association to submit affidavit in detail, listing the shortage of facilities in individual government hospitals, as it found the affidavit submit by the Association not proper.