Essential Services Maintenance Act

Doctors call off strike as Raj govt lifts ESMA

Jaipur: Government hospital doctors in Rajasthan called off their strike on Saturday night after Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot lifted the Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenance Act (RESMA) and released jailed doctors.

Seventy five patients died during the 11-day stir.

The doctors went on strike on December 21 demanding better pay and timely promotions. The protest led to a virtual collapse of the healthcare system in the state.

Gehlot on Saturday night ordered officials to lift RESMA and release all the jailed medicos....more    

Telangana employees boycott talks over strike

Hyderabad: Government employees in Telangana on Friday boycotted talks with the Andhra Pradesh cabinet sub-committee over their proposed general strike from August 17 to push for a separate Telangana. Leaders of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Telangana employees, teachers and gazetted officers boycotted the talks to protest government's move to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) in various departments. The JAC has made it clear that talks with...  

Mob justice in Andhra: nurse beaten, man 'hung'

Nagpur: Matt Prior paid tributes on Sunday to the influence of former Pakistan leg-break bowler Mushtaq Ahmed after being labelled England's best player of spin by team-mate Stuart Broad. Prior's return to the middle-order from an opener's berth for England's World Cup campaign has largely been seen in the context of Kevin Pietersen's promotion to partnering captain Andrew Strauss at the top of the order. But England are convinced moving...