Srinagar
While demanding urgent action as per what they were promised by Divisional Commissioner weeks ago, the Resident Doctors Association, Government Dental College Srinagar Thursday asked the government to resolve their issues that are pending, failing which they will again be forced go on the strike.
Saying that the students, as well as doctors, will be forced to resume their strike if the government does not resolve the pending problems, the statement said: “we are giving the authorities a weeks’ time to solve our pending issues otherwise we will be forced to resume the strike.”
“The resident doctors and students of Government Dental College Srinagar had gone on an indefinite strike one month back due to the inaction of Principal on the complaint by students that Dr Mohammad Mushtaq HOD Orthodontics was using his students as domestic help and used to physically and mentally harass them,” the statement issued here said.
The strike, the statement said continued for 12 days “during which Worthy Deputy Commissioner Srinagar conducted an enquiry in the case on the directions of Ministry of Health and Medical Education.”
Based on the report submitted by Deputy Commissioner, the Health Ministry attached Dr Mohammad Mushtaq to Directorate of Health Services for his ‘misdeeds’.
“After the attachment order was issued, the doctors and students demanded an academic in charge in place of Dr Mohammad Mushtaq for PG and UG students and compensation of the attendance of the period of protest as the protest was for a genuine cause,” the statement said.
On the directions and assurance of Health Minister and Divisional Commissioner Kashmir that “all our grievances will be addressed and academics will be streamlined, we suspended the strike,” the statement said.
However, the statement said, “we had stated that our protest will continue until the government issues an order to appoint permanent academic in charge of the Orthodontics department in place of Dr Muhammad Mushtaq and all the students are given compensation of attendance.”
Pertinent to mention, Minister of State for Ministry of Health and Medical Education Asiea Naqash also visited the college and directed the Principal to solve all the pending issues as earliest as possible.
“Also Worthy Divisional Commissioner had directed college as well as university authorities/VC to hasten the process of Guide change,” the Association’s statements said.
“Till this day neither the change of Guide/Examiner has come out in utmost clarity nor has any compensation been given for attendance. This has put students in a state of immense trouble as a cloud of uncertainty looms over their future.”
