Ambulance Service Needs To Be Restored Immediately: Patna HC Seeks State's Response In Plea Against Strike [Read Order]

Expressing concern over halt of "essential services" in the state, the Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice S. Kumar observed,

"We only hope and expect that the essential service i.e. providing ambulance to the needy is restored immediately, be it voluntarily by the service providers or with the effort and endeavour of the State Government."

Allegedly, ambulance workers are presently posted on a mandatory 12-hour shift without any weekly offs. A local news daily had reported last month that over one hundred workers had decided to resort to an indefinite strike, as a measure to stress their demands of regularization of services and humane work hours.

Given the prevalent health emergency condition, the matter is being treated as urgent and is listed for hearing tomorrow, i.e. October 8, 2020.

It was only in August this year, that the High Court had warned doctors and health workers against calling strike.

Patna HC Warns Govt. Doctors Of Contempt If "Illegal" Strike Not Called Off

The Court expressed the strict view that during the time of current situation and circumstances prevalent as a result of Pandemic Covid-19, none of the functionaries empowered and authorised under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 can refrain from discharging their duties and functions, "more so by resorting to the mechanism of strike which perhaps may be illegal".

Subsequently, the High Court took suo moto cognizance of the pitiable condition of the city on account of dumping of piles of garbage on its streets by the Municipal Corporation employees, and ordered them to call off the strike and join their duties, immediately.

Case Title: Gaurav Kumar Singh v. Union of India

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