[Protest by Resident Doctors] Letter to CJI seeks suo moto cognizance over the issue

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A letter petition filed before the Supreme Court has sought suo moto cognizance on the protests by the Doctors regarding NEET PG exam stating that this mass protest has resulted because the Union Health Ministry has not taken any concrete steps to expedite NEET-PG counseling.

The letter written by Advocate Vineet Jindal said that "The FORDA (Federation of Resident Doctors Association of India) has pointed out the "acute shortage" of resident doctors across the country as the counseling of NEET-PG 2021 batch has already been delayed by eight months."

The doctors have been striking work over delays in NEET-2021 PG counseling, which is pending as a result of ongoing litigation before the Supreme Court in a batch of petitions over economic reservations, which is going to be heard next on January 6, 2022.

It has stated that "Taking this strike to a further step ahead on 27th December, the mass protest was followed by doctor’s march which was stopped by the police near ITO and during this these doctors were brutally thrashed, dragged and detained by the police officials which further aggravated the situation and now has lead to a complete shutdown of the health care facilities all over the country."

The letter further stated that, "Already, Covid- 19 second wave has left an indelible impact on lives of people due to the massive death toll, and now we are again facing a crisis of third wave and are in extreme need of best health care services owing to the current situation of the outbreak of omicron virus."

It has sought for preponed hearing of the matter pertaining to the economic reservation in NEET-PG course and initiate day to day hearing along with the direction to the Central government to form a committee to address the issues related to doctors concerned.

The plea has further sought direction to the Commissioner of Delhi Police to initiate an enquiry and take stern action on culprits into the incident of physical assault on the protesting doctors by the Delhi police.