Prayagraj, Jun 8 The Allahabad High Court Bar Association (HCBA) on Monday demanded strict action against doctors and staff of Swaroop Rani Nehru (SRN) Hospital, Prayagraj, who were allegedly involved in manhandling attendants of a young woman lawyer after a road accident.
The demand came after the death of Jagriti Shukla, a lawyer practising at the Allahabad High Court, who succumbed to her injuries at the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI), Lucknow, on Monday morning.
Following the news of her demise, the HCBA convened a meeting and decided to abstain from judicial work after lunch as a mark of protest and mourning.
According to the association, Shukla was initially taken to SRN Hospital after the accident on May 20. The lawyers alleged that her attendants were "badly manhandled" by doctors and staff there and that there was negligence in treatment.
The injured lawyer was later shifted to a private hospital on May 21, from where she was referred to SGPGI, Lucknow. She battled for life for around 18 days before passing away, the association said.
Following the alleged incident, a stand-off had developed between lawyers and doctors, after which the lawyers held a protest and dharna at SRN Hospital demanding action against those accused of negligence and misbehaviour with the family members of the injured lawyer.
The agitation was later called off after an assurance was given that action had been taken against doctors and staff found involved in dereliction of duty.
The HCBA said the death was a case of alleged medical negligence and sent a copy of its resolution to the chief justice and the senior vacation judge of the Allahabad High Court.
Another lawyers' body of the high court also expressed condolences over Shukla's death and demanded strict action against those responsible.
Meanwhile, a section of lawyers held a dharna near Ambedkar crossing close to the high court, demanding that the names of doctors reportedly suspended after the incident be made public.
The protesters said they would continue their agitation until appropriate legal action was taken against those found guilty.
Lawyers of the Prayagraj district court also held a demonstration and raised slogans against the SRN Hospital doctors whom they accused of negligence leading to the death of the budding lawyer.
