IMA files petition in SC over non-payment of docs’ wages

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Court, over non-payment of overdue wages to doctors working in hospitals under three municipal corporations in Delhi.

The petition states that even though a June 17 order had directed the Delhi government to pay their doctors and healthcare workers, no step had been taken to implement the directive.

The plea was filed by Advocate Amarjeet Singh and represented by Advocate Prabhas Bajaj. Aside from paying the pending wages, the doctors and health workers were also supposed to be provided appropriate accommodation, with proper quarantine guidelines uniformly implemented for them, none of which is taking place.

The North, South and East Delhi Municipal Corporations, according to the plea, have not paid the pending salaries to the doctors, which is a matter of public knowledge. It went on to state that the doctors were not demanding any special treatment, but were simply asking for the clearance of dues and fulfilment of certain basic requirements.

Non-clearance of dues and denial of the bare minimum had forced the doctors to take to the streets, as a mark of protest, with begging bowls in hand to beg the authorities to pay them their salaries. Highlighting the tireless efforts of the doctors, the petition stated how inaction on the part of the authorities was injustice towards the doctors and clear violation of Article 21.

The doctors have been holding agitations and dharnas, and filing complaints for some time now. Doctors and health workers from the Hindu Rao Hospital had gone on a hunger strike from October 23 to October 29, with the filing of the contempt case taking place on October 28.

The apex court is expected to hear the case today, that is, December 3, as the dues still remain to be cleared for these doctors and health workers.