Karnataka prohibits strike by doctors, health staff

The Karnataka government on Monday has issued a notification prohibiting strikes, non-cooperation, disobeying or refusal of work related to health services in the state. The notification signed by Karnataka Chief Secretary TM Vijay Bhaskar said that it was issued in the interest of public health.

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has prohibited strikes, non-cooperation, and any other form of disobedience by public servants and health workers engaged in providing health services related to COVID-19.

The Chief Secretary of the state TM Vijay Bhaskar passed an order to this effect on October 4, in the wake of doctors, paramedics and health workers on government job or hired on contractual basis going on strike and threatening to stop work.

In the order, the Chief Secretary has stated, “As Chairman of the State Executive Committee, I hereby prohibit strikes, non-cooperation, disobeying or refusal to work related to health services; non-submission of reports, non-compliance to the orders issued by the higher authorities by any public servant, health personnel”.

The Chief Secretary added in the order that “Disobeying or refusal of the work will amount to a contravention of the provisions of the said Acts, Rules or Orders”.

The order comes in the wake of rising COVID-19 cases in the state.

As on Sunday evening, cumulatively there were 6.41 lakh infections and 9,286 fatalities. Last week the state saw daily infections peaking over 10,000 cases.