IMPHAL: The state government has prohibited with immediate effect any form of agitation, including participation in "cease work" strike, which may disrupt government health services.
An order dated August 18, issued by the Manipur special secretary (Home), pointed out that according to the health department, several staff, including nurses, appeared to have joined the "cease work" strike called by the Manipur Government Services Federation and others.
The order added that any form of agitation that “disrupts or dislocates the ‘Essential Services’ as outlined under section 2 (a) (iii) of the Manipur Essential Services Maintenance Act 1984” will have serious adverse impact in the maintenance of public health, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, and will seriously endanger the life of the public.
It added that the government found it necessary to prohibit launching of any agitation or participation in any form of protest by the health department staff in public interest. The order further stated that no person employed in any essential service shall go or remain on strike, and “any strike declared or commenced, whether before or after the issue of this order, by persons employed in any such service shall be illegal.”
