Monday, July 24 2006 12:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today (July 24, 2006) issued notices to the Centre and Medical Council of India (MCI) on a PIL seeking a ban on strike by doctors.

A bench of Justice Arijit Pasayat and Justice Lokeshwar Singh Panta asked the Centre and MCI to respond to the PIL filed by People for Better Treatment, within six weeks. It further gave four weeks to the petitioner to file its rejoinder to the replies of Centre and MCI.

The petitioner raised the issue of the death of a patient in All India Institute of Medical Sciences here during the recent anti-quota stir.

The court appointed senior counsel Rajiv Dhavan as an Amicus Curiae to assist it in the matter. The court asked Dhavan to assist it in deciding whether doctors can go on a strike.

Formulating the main issues to be considered by it, the bench asked Dhavan to further prepare his submissions/suggestions as to whether doctors strike should be treated as negligence or misconduct on their part.

It also asked Dhavan to examine whether MCI can initiate action against the doctors and paramedics for resorting to strike.