Madhya Pradesh High Court Declares Strike By Nurses As illegal, Asks Govt. To Consider Their Demands 'Sympathetically'

Condemning the action of nurses to go on strike at a time when the country has still not been able to come out of the ill effects of the second wave of COVID-19, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has declared the strike of nurses in the State as illegal.

This direction comes on the plea filed by Nagrik Upbhokta Margdarshak Manch inter alia with a prayer that the strike by nurses in the State called by Joint Forum Nursing Association, be declared illegal.

It was argued that approximately 50000 Nurses of the State are on strike, which is causing huge inconvenience to the people of the State

Declaring the strike as illegal, the Bench of Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla directed the Nursing Association to immediately call off their strike and resume their duties.

Association's submission

The Court did so while taking into account the submission of the Association that despite their long-standing demands, the State Government had not taken any steps for the redressal of their grievances, except, of course, in respect of changing nomenclature of their designation.

The Counsel for the Association referred to the demand charter dated 24.06.2021 containing a total of 14 demands.

It was submitted that the State authorities ought to engage in discussion with the representatives of the Joint Forum Nursing Association for accepting all their reasonable demands so as to enable them to call off the strike.

Directions to State Government

Therefore, the State Government was directed by the Court to notify the constitution of a Committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary, Health with the Principal Secretary, Finance Department, and Director, Health Services as its members.

This Committee shall invite the representatives of the Nursing Association for negotiations and submit its report to the State Government positively within a period of two months.

The State Government shall on the basis of the recommendation of the Committee shall pass appropriate order within a month thereafter, directed the Court.

Case title - Nagrik Upbhokta Margdarshak Manch And Others v. The State Of Madhya Pradesh and Ors.

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