PTI

New Delhi, May 31: The Supreme Court on on Wednesday directed the protesting medicos to call off their strike forthwith and assured them that the apex court would look into their grievances.

"We direct that all strikes, protests, demonstrations or any form of dissent should be called off forthwith," a vacation Bench of Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice L S Panta said. The Bench said if the strike is called off, the government should appropriately consider the feelings of students and not take any punitive action.

The court said that the government shall recall the doctors whose services were terminated during the agitation and the doctors should be given three days time to join work.

The Bench assured the medicos that an action, which would be taken pursuant to the government policy, would be subject to the outcome of the writ petitions.

The court made it clear that not withstanding the pendency of the writ petitions against the government move to extend 27 per cent reservations to OBCs in institutions of higher education, it would be open to anyone to make representations before the Centre or approach the apex court.

The court asked Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanian to file a status report tomorrow relating to the compliance of its order.

The Bench gave liberty to the agitating medicos as well as those affected by the policy to file separate petitions. On an application moved by the resident doctors associations of Maulana Azad Medical College and AIIMS, the Bench issued notice to the Centre, asking it to respond to the issues raised in it.

The court asked all those on strike to end it, saying the damage done to the patients is sometimes irretrievable.