No solution in IGMC dispute: Resident doctors plan indefinate strike after CM office denies any re-probe promise

Shimla,Dec 27,

The health system at Himachal Pradesh’s largest government hospital—IGMC Shimla—continues facing disruption as Resident Doctors Association (RDA) has declared an indefinite strike starting December 27, alleging that Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu assured them of a re-investigation into the termination of Dr. Raghav Narula following his altercation with a patient. But the claim itself has triggered a political and administrative clash.
While RDA insists the Chief Minister agreed to revisit the decision, BJP MLA from Pangi and former IGMC Medical Superintendent has sharply questioned the practicality of such a move.
He argued that “once a doctor has already been terminated, how can the government order a re-investigation against someone who is no longer in service?”

Experts say any reconsideration of termination will require a legal route — either a review by the appointing authority or intervention by an administrative tribunal or court.
When HimachalScape reached out to the Chief Minister’s Office, a spokesperson categorically stated that no such commitment has been made publicly by the CM. The spokesperson added that what transpired during the CM–RDA interaction is “not clearly known”, hinting at possible miscommunication between the two sides.
Meanwhile, the escalating standoff reflects the failure to find a resolution despite several rounds of discussions. The RDA’s call for a strike indicates that dissatisfaction remains unaddressed and hospital services may be severely impacted, especially in emergency and critical care areas heavily dependent on resident doctors.
To maintain operations, the IGMC administration has issued SOPs, directing residents to strictly follow the duty roster and ensure continuity in services — an indication that the administration expects resistance on the ground.

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