CNN-IBN

New Delhi, May 31: The Supreme Court on Tuesday warned students agitating against the proposed reservation of Other Backward Classes in institutes of higher learning to call off their strike with immediate effect or face contempt of court.

The apex court said that on Monday it had made an observation urging the doctors to end their strike in the interest of the larger public good, hoping better sense would prevail.

However, the court has now made clear it was taking the matter very seriously and that the doctors would face contempt charges if the agitation is not immediately called off.

A vacation bench headed by Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice L S Panta also said the decision was arrived at keeping in mind the welfare of the patients who were bearing the brunt of the strike.

"We specifically said yesterday, for larger public interest, the ongoing strike should be called off. On the

contrary, opposite is going on. We are not concerned at this stage about the Government policy. We are concerned at this stage about the plight of the people," the Bench said.

The apex court said since the matter was sub-judice, no comment, protest and agitation on the issue would amount to contempt.

The court also asked the Government to file a memorandum before it on Wednesday giving details of the latest position vis-a-vis the strike.

"We are told that they (agitating students) are continuing with the strike. If they are over-reaching our orders, they are in for a surprise. It can amount to contempt," the Bench said.

Youth for Equality - the umbrella organisation under which students are protesting - has called for a General Body Meeting to decide on the strike.

"We will respect the judiciary if it's an order, but we will arrive at a consensus only after a meeting with the forum's members. The agitation has now become a nationwide movement and we can't say anything before a meeting," Youth for Equality member Dr Amit says.

As the news about the SC order spread, agitating doctors from across India expressed their disappointment but did not comment on the future of the strike.

"We are disappointed by the decision. We are in the middle of the battlefield and can't turn around now. But we will decide on it only after a meeting," a Bangalore doctor says.

The Supreme Court on Monday had also issued a notice to the Centre asking it to explain the basis of its decision to implement 27 per cent reservation for OBCs.