HC allows coercive action against striking PGIMER staff, orders return to work

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday made it clear that the Chandigarh administration as well as the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) administration can take all kinds of coercive steps against the staff resorting to strike in the institute. The court has also asked the employees to return back to work.
“The HC has stayed the notice issued by the employees body regarding strike and has asked all the employees on strike to resume work immediately.Court has also empowered the UT as well as PGIMER administration to take all coercive action against those resorting to strike,” Amit Jhanji, senior standing counsel Chandigarh administration confirmed while sharing the details of court proceedings.
Division bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal has passed these orders while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by PGIMER. HC was informed that the abstinence of work by the employees has led to breakdown of the OPDs as well as in-house patient care at PGIMER, rendering thousands of patients unattended. It was also informed that hospital services are essential services as defined under the East Punjab Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1947.
On Tuesday, the PGIMER, Chandigarh had filed a petition raising an issue of the adverse impact on the hospital facilities due to contractual/ outsourced employees, proceeding on strike since October 10.
On earlier occasions, the HC had passed several orders to ensure the functioning of the institute was not suffered because of strikes. It includes directions to arrest the office bearers of the unions in case they proceed on strike/hunger strike etc.