Kathmandu, January 14

Patan High Court today issued an interim order to open the Imadol-based KIST Medical college and end the month-long protest of employees at the hospital.

Giving its verdict on a writ petition filed by the college administration on January 10, a division bench of justices Bholanath Chaulagain and Rishi Prasad Adhikari issued the order.

The court issued the order to open the hospital referring it as essential service. “The hospital is an essential service provider. Hospital closure affects health of hundreds of people. Since it is a medical college, its closure will also hamper the studies of students. Therefore, the interim order has been issued,” said Justice Chaulagain.

Similarly, the court has also ordered that the issued raised by the agitating employees be addressed through talks. The medical college was shut since December 14 after the employees working there launched protest demanding salary hike. The employees at the medical college had been on strike, demanding fulfilment of their 15-point demand. The college administration had filed a writ petition at Patan High Court after failing to reach an agreement with the agitating employees.

Due to the protest of the employees, MBBS students had not been able to take final year practical examinations, which the Institute of Medicine has postponed until further notice. The classes for MBBS second year too remained halted.

Similarly, students hadn’t been able to undergo internship. The medical college currently has a total of 600 students pursuing MBBS and BDS courses. Currently, 70 MBBS graduates are undergoing internship at the college.