Junior Doctors Association calls off flash strike

Tirupati: The Junior Doctors Association (JUDA) of SV Medical College here began flash strike from 8 am on Wednesday demanding the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of CID to produce the accused in the suicide case of PG medical student Dr B Shilpa and boycotted duties at outpatient and in-patient services. 

However, with government’s intervention they have called of their agitation in the afternoon and said that they would wait for one more month before taking further decision in this regard. Earlier, the JUDA held an emergency meeting on Tuesday night which was continued even after midnight and decided to go on strike.

They said that 42 days have passed since Dr Shilpa committed suicide on August 7 after she has failed in her PG theory examinations who earlier sent a mail to the Governor complaining that she was subjected to verbal sexual harassment by three professors of paediatrics including the Head of the department. It may be recalled that following the agitation by the junior doctors after her death, a committee led by Director of Medical Education enquired into the whole episode following which the government has suspended the HoD Dr P Ravikumar and transferred Dr AS Kireeti and Dr Sasikumar to Nellore. 

Then Principal of SVMC Dr NV Ramanaiah was also removed from his post and a new principal Dr G Ravi Prabhu was appointed. The government also appointed a SIT by CID officials to probe the case on August 9. Now, the JUDA has argued that the accused were not produced before court even after completion of enquiry and SIT has not revealed the probe report and no action was initiated. 

They organised a protest on September 8 demanding SIT to disclose its findings and as there was no move from SIT they held the emergency meeting and went on strike and even threatened to boycott emergency services from Thursday morning.

As the discussions with the Principal Dr Ravi Prabhu went futile, the district administration has entered the scene with Joint Collector – II VR Chandramouli reached the College and hold discussions with leaders of JUDA, SVMC and Ruia hospital authorities. District Collector PS Pradyumna also spoke to the leaders in phone and convinced them that justice will be done to the victim. 

It was learnt that the Collector has asked the leaders to wait till SIT completes its investigation which was already going on a fast track basis. The leaders have agreed to this and called off the strike saying that they will wait for one more month to see the developments and will take a final call then. JUDA leaders Dr M Venkataramana, Dr GC Lavanya Kumari, Dr Y Anusha and others participated in the discussions.