SKIMS Bemina Issues Show-Cause Notice to Striking Medical Interns
Srinagar: The ongoing dispute over the stipend of medical interns in Jammu and Kashmir has taken a more serious turn, with the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Medical College, Bemina, issuing show-cause notices to interns who have been absent from their duties as part of the ongoing strike.
The notice, issued by the Principal of SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, gives the striking Clinical Resident Medical Interns (CRMIs) 24 hours to explain why disciplinary action should not be initiated against them for abstaining from their assigned duties.
The administration warned that interns who fail to respond within the stipulated period could face action under the applicable rules.
The move comes after medical interns across government medical and dental colleges in Jammu and Kashmir began their strike last Monday. The interns are demanding an increase in their monthly stipend from the existing Rs 12,300 to Rs 30,000, arguing for a more reasonable stipend during their internship period.
According to the SKIMS notice, the absence of interns has affected hospital operations, particularly patient care and emergency services.
The administration referred to NMC Notification No. UGMEB/NMC/Rules and Regulations/2021 dated November 18, 2021, stating that participation in a strike could be treated as gross indiscipline and professional misconduct. The notice warned that disciplinary consequences could include curtailment, temporary suspension, or cancellation of the internship, subject to the applicable rules.
The administration also pointed to affidavits submitted by interns at the time of joining their internship. According to the notice, the interns had agreed to maintain discipline, follow college rules and regulations, and refrain from participating in strikes or other acts of indiscipline.
However, the issue has also triggered a political response.
PDP leader Iltija Mufti criticised the action against the interns and questioned the government’s handling of the situation. She described the government’s position as “double speak,” particularly after Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had reportedly indicated earlier that the stipend issue would be resolved.
Mufti argued that medical interns should be allowed to raise their concerns through peaceful protest and questioned the use of affidavits as a basis for disciplinary action.
The dispute now places the administration and the striking interns at a difficult crossroads. On one side is the hospital’s responsibility to maintain patient care and emergency services; on the other is the interns’ demand for a substantial increase in their stipend.
For the interns, the issue is not simply about a number on a payslip. It is about how their work, responsibilities and contribution to the healthcare system are valued.
For patients and their families, the priority is equally clear: hospitals need enough medical staff available when care is urgently needed.
What happens next will depend on how both sides respond to the growing tension. The coming days could be important in determining whether the dispute moves toward disciplinary action or whether dialogue can bring the interns back to duty while addressing their demand for a higher stipend.
At the heart of the controversy is a difficult question: how can the healthcare system protect uninterrupted patient care while also ensuring that young medical professionals feel fairly heard and valued?
The answer may require less confrontation and more meaningful conversation between the interns, college authorities and the government.