The U N Mehta Heart Institute Nursing Association has challenged the enforcement of Gujarat Essential Services Maintenance Act (GESMA), 1972, in the Gujarat High Court, a day after it was invoked on the nurses of the institute who are on a strike since Monday.
The hearing on the petition is scheduled for Thursday.
Advocate Amrish Patel, who filed the petition, said GESMA was challenged as the notification was without any authority of law. The institute was not a solely government operated body, but only received grant-in-aid. As such, enforcement of GESMA was not applicable under the present circumstances, he said.
He added that the workers cannot be prevented from forming an association — a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution. Meanwhile, nurses continued to stay away from work on Wednesday as well. Association president Hiten Patel said the association leaders wanted to discuss the issues and settle the matter, but there was no response from the management. Despite the strike, 25 to 30 nurses were on duty to attend to the critical patients in the hospital, he added.
Institute appeals nurses to end strike
Authorities at the U N Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research Centre on Wednesday appealed to the nurses to end their strike, saying the hospital provided round the clock service to cardiac patients. A press release by the institute said the issue pertains to life and death of the patients, many of whom are poor and are provided treatment free of cost.
Some nurses are on duty and others should end the strike and join back. But the statement said nothing about the demands of the nurses. Association president Hiten Patel said the nurses on duty are in agreement with the issues raised by the association, but have reported on duty in the interest of the patients.
Source: Indian Express
