Resident Doctors Threaten Indefinite Strike After Dr Raghav Nirula’s Termination

Resident doctors at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital in Shimla have declared a mass casual leave on December 26, 2025, in strong protest against the termination of senior resident Dr Raghav Nirula from the Department of Pulmonary Medicine. The decision follows a viral video from December 22 showing Dr Nirula in a physical altercation with a patient, Arjun Pawar, leading to widespread public condemnation and subsequent governmental action. The state administration, after reviewing reports from the hospital and an internal inquiry committee—which reportedly held both parties accountable—swiftly dismissed Dr Nirula, prompting accusations of hasty and unfair punishment from the medical community.

The Resident Doctors Association, led by president Dr Sohil Sharma, has outlined a structured escalation plan, beginning with a scheduled meeting with the Chief Minister on the morning of December 26. Should demands remain unmet, a full-scale strike is set to commence from December 27 at 9:30 am, with only emergency services operational while outpatient departments, routine procedures, and elective surgeries halt indefinitely. This action threatens severe disruptions at IGMC, a critical tertiary care facility serving as the primary referral center for Himachal Pradesh, potentially affecting thousands of patients reliant on its specialized services.

The association's demands include immediate revocation of Dr Nirula's dismissal order, registration of an FIR against an individual named Naresh Dasta for alleged threats, and legal proceedings against those responsible for damaging government property during the incident. Furthermore, the RDA has called for a thorough investigation into persistent security deficiencies at the hospital, particularly inadequate CCTV coverage and unimplemented safety protocols despite previous assessments, emphasizing the need for accountability to prevent future breaches that endanger healthcare professionals.

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Nationwide solidarity has bolstered the protest, with the Federation of Resident Doctors' Associations submitting a formal appeal to the Chief Minister advocating for an impartial, time-bound inquiry that considers contextual factors such as potential provocation and security failures rather than relying solely on partial video evidence. The Himachal Medical Officers Association has joined by announcing its own mass leave on December 26, warning of further restrictions from December 27, while the Ladakh Medical Association has condemned the termination as unjust, arguing it penalizes a doctor who may have acted in self-defense and sets a perilous precedent for medical practitioners facing violence.

As multiple medical bodies unite in support of Dr Nirula and demand systemic reforms to protect healthcare workers, the escalating standoff places immense pressure on the state government. With healthcare services already poised for significant interruption and the possibility of prolonged industrial action looming, the resolution of this controversy will have far-reaching implications for doctor safety, patient care, and institutional trust across Himachal Pradesh.

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