The Patna high court on Tuesday stayed the statewide doctors' strike scheduled to begin from December 5 after negotiations with the state government over their demands failed. The court, in its order, asked doctors to desist from their strike.

A divisional bench, headed by acting chief justice Narayan Roy, after hearing the two Public Interest Litigations, stayed the statewide doctors' strike.

Over 3,000 government doctors working in hospitals and public health centres decided last week to go on an indefinite strike starting Wednesday.

Doctors under the banner of the Bihar Health Services Association were adamant to go on strike after the state government failed to concede to their demands.

The doctors' demands include a hike in their pay scale, stopping FIRs from being lodged against doctors without verification, implementation of a Dynamic Assured Career Promotion Scheme, and bringing an end to the indecent behaviour of state administrative officials with the doctors.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Health Minister Chandra Mohan Roy appealed to the doctors not to go on strike.