The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday invoked provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act against the striking junior doctors for not resuming duty, honouring the government deadline.

The government issued GO 423 to invoke ESMA against the junior doctors, who have been boycotting duty since December 14, demanding that the government provide Special Protection Force security at all government teaching hospitals and arrest those who attacked junior doctors at Nayapool Maternity Government Hosptial immediately.

Despite the government setting a deadline of Wednesday for the junior doctors to resume duty and warning that ESMA would otherwise be invoked, the agitators continued their stir at all government teaching hospitals.

Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy had on Tuesday warned that ESMA would be invoked against junior doctors if they did not resume duty by Wednesday morning.