Cuttack, Sept. 22: Orissa High Court today directed the Sambalpur collector and the superintendent of police to provide adequate security to doctors and students at VSS Medical College and Hospital in Burla, while expressing hope that the striking doctors at the three medical college hospitals in Orissa would return to duty.
The doctors are on strike following an alleged attack on their junior colleagues at VSS Medical College and Hospital by “outsiders”, including a Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader.
The striking doctors, however, said they were yet to receive the order and would hold a meeting to discuss the issue.
“We can’t say anything now. We will meet at SCB Medical College to discuss the issue,” said Soubhagya Tripathy, member, Joint Action Committee of the agitating doctors.
VSS medical college, which was closed indefinitely on September 7 following violence, reopened on September 20, but the students are yet to return to classes. “No student has turned up yet,” said principal Santosh Kumar Behera.
The court expected deployment of armed police force, if necessary, to protect doctors and students till the government made permanent security arrangements. The Sambalpur district judge will monitor the safety measures.
The two-judge bench of Chief Justice V. Gopala Gowda and Justice B.N. Mohapatra issued the interim order while expressing “hope and trust” that the striking medicos and students at the three medical colleges in Cuttack, Burla and Berhampur “will join their respective duties and classes from onward for better interest of the patients and also the state”.
The court was hearing a PIL along with intervention petitions filed by junior doctors and students of VSS medical college.
Junior Doctors’ Association, Berhampur unit president, Subashis Mohanty and member Prasanta Kumar Bal had filed a petition accusing the state government of “hoodwinking” them “time and again” over providing security at VSS Medical College and Hospital despite several incidents of attacks by hoodlums.
The petition alleged that the main accused, Sisir Kumar Dandia, and a group of hoodlums had attacked a group of students on September 4 while they were returning from a hotel after having dinner.
The attack was repeated. It also alleged that while the students were on peaceful protest on September 7, the Burla Notified Area Council chairperson, Chandrabati Naik, came with some people and abused and threatened the students.
On the other hand, 11 more junior doctors joined the hunger strike at SCB Medical College today. The condition of one is said to have deteriorated following a fall in blood pressure.
“Today, 11 more junior doctors joined the hunger strike, which will be intensified in the coming days,” said Niranjan Panigrahy, Joint Action Committee member.
Medical services continued to be affected at SCB Medical College because of the agitation.
