Kerala High Court Directs State To Ensure OPD, Essential Medical Services Not Disrupted Amid Medical College Doctors' Strike

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (February 26) directed the State government to ensure that Out-Patient and essential medical services in Government Medical Colleges are not disrupted due to the on-going doctors' strike in the State.The Division Bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Syam Kumar V.M. was considering a public interest litigation seeking a direction to the State to ensure uninterrupted functioning of Out-Patient Departments (OPD) and all essential medical services in Government Medical Colleges in view of the indefinite boycott by the Kerala Government Medical College Teachers' Association (KGMCTA), initiated on February 16.When the matter came up for consideration, Advocate Ajeesh Kalathil Gopi appearing in person submitted that medical services are disrupted for the past 11 days due to the strike called on by the doctors. Advocate Vineetha B., senior government pleader appearing for the State submitted that she had received instructions from the liaison officer that OPD is not disrupted. She further told the Court that senior and junior residents are being deployed to conduct the OPD without any hindrance, and periodical reviews and meetings are going on with the senior doctors, who are on strike.Recording the submission, the Court passed an interim order directing the State to file an affidavit in this regard and to resolve the issue within the next posting date. It also reminded that the State has the duty to ensure that the OPD and essential medical services in the government medical colleges are not disrupted."The State is directed to file an affidavit by the adjourned date and must ensure that the issue is resolved in the meantime. It shall also be the duty of the State to ensure that the functioning of the OPD and all essential medical colleges across the State of Kerala is not disrupted by the same strike," the Bench observed.According to the plea, the doctors are on strike for issues relating to salary revision, service conditions, etc. The plea has relied on newspaper reports and stated that essential services in the government medical colleges, which are usually performed by senior faculty, have been disrupted due to the strike."That pursuant to the boycott commencing on 16.02.2026, routine outpatient consultations and specialist review duties ordinarily performed by senior faculty (Professors, Associate Professors and Assistant Professors) have been withdrawn. Although casualty and emergency services are stated to be excluded, the absence of regular faculty participation has substantially impaired specialist supervision, delayed clinical decision-making and disrupted continuity-dependent treatment," states the plea.The petitioner has stated that the government medical colleges, being instrumentalities of the State within the meaning of Article 12, have the duty to ensure that these institutions discharge their essential services, and any shortfall would amount to a violation of Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution.Case No: WP(PIL) 40/ 2026Case Title: Ajeesh Kalathil Gopi v. State of Kerala and Ors.The petitioner is appearing in person in the case.Click to Read/Download Interim Order

Kerala High Court Directs State To Ensure OPD, Essential Medical Services Not Disrupted Amid Medical College Doctors' Strike

K. Salma Jennath

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