The Supreme Court (SC) rebuked the Federal Government in harshest terms over the non-payment of salaries to doctors who went on strike over the reservation quota issue and demand that the name of the individual stopping the payment be disclosed. Many believed that the now publicly embarrassed Health Minister Anbumani Ramdoss is stalling the payment of salaries as retribution to All India Institute of Medical Science doctors who not only went on strike but publicly lampooned him over the
quota issue and
dismissal of their Director.
The SC had directed the Government to release the salaries to the doctors on July 17. Angered by the non-implementation of the order, the SC demanded within 2 weeks time facts from the Health Ministry on who was responsible for the delay in payment of salaries, what action had been taken or was proposed to be taken against those responsible.
