The government of Nagaland invoked ESMA stating that the proposed cease work strike would have serious impact on the delivery of essential health services, thereby putting in grave jeopardy the life and well-being of the people of the state.
By Imna Longchar, TFM Nagaland Correspondent
The proposed three-day cease work stir (July 18 to 20) called by Nagaland In-Service Doctors’ Association (NIDA) has been suspended following the government’s order to impose Section 3 (1) of the Nagaland Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1978 (ESMA).
It may be mentioned that, the government of Nagaland invoked ESMA stating that the cease work strike would have serious impact on the delivery of essential health services, thereby putting in grave jeopardy the life and well-being of the people of the state.
The communiqué issued by the government stated that no doctor employed/deployed in any government health unit/facility shall go for agitation or cessation of work and any such act would be
considered illegal. It also stated that any doctor employed/deployed in any government health unit/facility who goes for cessation of work/strike, under Section 4 of Nagaland Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1978, shall on conviction be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which my extend to Rs.1000 or with both.
The communiqué further stated that any doctor employed/deployed in any government health unit/facility against whom action is taken under Section 4 of the Nagaland Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1978, shall also be liable to disciplinary action under the relevant service/conduct rules or contractual conditions, as applicable.
It was also informed that notwithstanding anything contained in CrPc, 1973, any police officer may arrest without warrant any doctor employed/deployed in any government health unit/facility, who is reasonably suspected of having omitted the illegal act of ceasing work/going on strike under Section 8 of the Nagaland Essential Services (Maintenance) Act, 1978.