Hyderabad: The Telangana Junior Doctors Association (T-JUDA) expressed strong criticism on Friday against the police for their treatment of junior doctors protesting at a private medical college in Karimnagar over unpaid stipends. They urged the government to take action against the college and demanded a public apology from the police.
At a press conference, T-JUDA officials spoke out against the police and college authorities. Dr. Ajay Kumar, the General Secretary, mentioned that on Doctors’ Day, junior doctors held a peaceful protest at Chelmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences, while allowing emergency vehicles to pass.
Dr. Kumar accused the police of mistreating the protesters, even threatening them with batons. He also claimed that the college management intimidated the doctors with suspension threats.
The junior doctors asserted that stipends were their rightful earnings, yet they either did not receive them or got amounts below the National Medical Commission’s standards.
“This isn’t an isolated stipend issue; it affects all private medical colleges, where stipends appear credited but are not received,” Dr. Kumar explained.
The T-JUDA announced plans to bring their complaints to the government, the National Medical Commission, and the University regarding both stipend issues and police actions.
“We insist the police issue a public apology to the students. The government should also act against the management,” Dr. Ajay Kumar emphasized.
Dr. J Isaac Newton, T-JUDA President, claimed that college management harassed students with abusive language and threats, causing significant emotional distress.
The management reportedly forced students involved in the strike to record a video claiming, “I have not shared any information with any party for the press release; this is an internal matter.” Dr. Newton stated that they threatened students’ future careers, boasting of “high contacts in society,” and declaring, “no one can do anything to them.” He condemned these as “intimidating statements” and “a dangerous abuse of power.”
T-JUDA members called on the Chief Minister and the Health Minister for quick action and demanded the college immediately revoke all student suspensions.
