NEW DELHI: The doctors of the corporation-run hospitals have decided to take ‘mass casual leave’ on Friday to protest repeated delays in payment of their salaries. However, the authorities have decided to invoke Essential Services Maintenance Act ( ESMA ) if the doctors go on strike.

“We are yet to receive salaries for March and April. In February, the salaries were released two weeks late. How long can we survive like this? We also have families to feed,” said Dr R R Gautam, the president of Municipal Corporation Doctors’ Association. He said the problem is acute in health institutions run by the east and north Delhi corporations. The protesters will also march to the houses of the chief minister and the lieutenant governor from Hindu Rao Hopsital.

“If the doctors go on strike, ESMA will be invoked. The protesters will be pliable for penal action and their salary for the cessation of work shall be deducted accordingly,” said a spokesperson of North Corporation. North Corporation claimed to have disbursed the salaries for March.

The corporations run Hindu Rao hospital, Kasturba hospital, Rajan Babu TB Hospital, several polyclinics and dispensaries across the city. Sources say fund crunch is not only delaying salaries but also medicine procurement and development activities.

“During every protest the authorities assure us of a solution. In few cases, salaries have also been released. But how long will this continue?” said a senior doctor. He also questioned the corporation’s decision to start a medical college in Hindu Rao Hospital recently when there is no infrastructure or funds to support the project.

R K Saxena, the general secretary of Hindu Rao Hospital Employees Union, said they are finding it difficult to support their families. A few doctors have met Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken, who has raised the issue with LG.