Srinagar, September 8: A delegation of protesting medical interns met Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar on Tuesday as their stipend agitation entered its ninth day, while Government Medical College Anantnag issued show-cause notices to two MBBS interns over alleged absence from duty.

The meeting took place amid growing concern among interns after disciplinary notices were issued at GMC Anantnag and SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, concerning their participation in the ongoing agitation and absence from assigned duties.

At GMC Anantnag, Principal of the college issued notices dated September 8 to Mohammad Akab Javed and Runga Zamin Javaid, both MBBS interns.

The notices state that the two interns had remained absent from their assigned duties for about a week and that their absence had affected patient care and emergency services.

The college cited a National Medical Commission notification dated November 18, 2021, and termed the alleged conduct gross indiscipline and professional misconduct. The notices warned that disciplinary action could include curtailment, temporary suspension or cancellation of the internship.

The interns have been asked to submit their explanations within 24 hours and clarify why disciplinary proceedings should not be initiated against them.

The notices also referred to affidavits submitted by the interns at the time of joining compulsory rotating residential internship, under which they had undertaken to follow college rules and maintain discipline.

A similar notice was issued earlier by SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, stating that most interns had not been attending their assigned duties for the previous week and warning of action under applicable rules.

The developments come as MBBS and BDS interns across Jammu and Kashmir continue their agitation seeking an increase in the monthly stipend from around ₹12,300 to ₹30,000. The protesters have been demanding a formal government order implementing the proposed enhancement.

Health Minister Sakina Itoo has previously termed the demand genuine and said the proposal had been processed by the Health and Medical Education Department before being sent to the Finance Department for examination of its financial implications.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also called for resolution of the issue, while his Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani said on Tuesday that the matter was under active consideration and expressed hope for an early resolution.

The meeting with the Health Minister comes as interns seek a decision on the stipend revision, while the latest show-cause notices have added a disciplinary dimension to the ongoing protest.