Delhi: AIIMS Nurses Union Begin Indefinite Strike After Union Prez Suspended

No employee of staff or faculty member will cease work for any reason whatsoever, AIIMS has said.

The nurses union of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Tuesday, 26 April, began an indefinite strike after the hospital administration suspended union's president Harish Kajla. AIIMS, in response, directed its staff and faculty to not disrupt work for any reason.

"No employee of staff or faculty member will cease work for any reason whatsoever or disrupt the work or aid or abet such disruption or cessation. No use of loudspeakers or shouting of slogans, demonstration, Dharna within the campus," AIIMS wrote in its notification later on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the nurses union has demanded the immediate revocation of the nursing officer's suspension. In a letter addressed to the director of the hospital, Randeep Guleria, the nurses union wrote:

"In response to your unilateral decision to suspend Harish Kajla, president of AIIMS Nurses Union, without even citing proper reasons, the union has called an emergency executive meeting and decided to go on indefinite strike from 8 am, 26/4/2022 demanding immediate revocation of suspension of Harish Kumar Kajla and stopping of all kinds of retaliative measures against union executives and Union members of main OT."

Delhi HC Intervenes

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court has directed the AIIMS nurses union to ensure that the employees, including nurses who are on strike, join duties. The court has also listed the matter for Wednesday morning at 10.30 am. A petition was moved by AIIMS administration against the ongoing strike by the nurses.

In light of the incident on 22 April, when services of OT patients were hampered, Kajla was suspended with immediate effect on Monday night.

In their letter, the union added, "The union has always been receptive and open to expressing our genuine concerns and version throughout this issue. But unfortunately, we were neither called, nor contacted via any communication which forced us to go on an indefinite strike to safeguard the basic rights of our members."

Meanwhile, AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria said:

"Patients & their families didn't get treatment on time. Nurses Union shouted at doctors on duty. Instead of relieving patients, they put them in danger. We don't stand for it. I appeal to them to join their duties."

(With inputs from ANI.)