HC Asks AP About Steps Taken to Resolve Junior Doctors’ Stir
A two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Lisa Gill and Justice Challa Gunaranjan heard a lunch-motion PIL filed by social activist Guduri Venkata Ravindra Kumar challenging the stir by junior doctors seeking a hike in their stipend.
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday sought details from the state government on the steps taken to resolve the ongoing stir by junior doctors and how emergency healthcare services were being managed without disruption. The court also issued notices to the AP Junior Doctors Association.
A two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Lisa Gill and Justice Challa Gunaranjan heard a lunch-motion PIL filed by social activist Guduri Venkata Ravindra Kumar challenging the stir by junior doctors seeking a hike in their stipend.
The petitioner also sought directions to the state government to take measures to prevent disruption of emergency and critical care services and ensure the functioning of operation theatres and ICUs.
Petitioner’s counsel Y. Tagore argued that emergency services were being affected and that doctors were taking up to four hours to attend to emergency cases.
Advocate-General Dammalapati Srinivas told the court that the state government was holding talks with the junior doctors. He said accepting their demand would impose an annual financial burden of `89 crore on the state exchequer.
After hearing both sides, the court adjourned the case for further hearing on Tuesday.
