The Supreme Court said there is "no point" issuing orders that "cannot be implemented".
The Supreme Court today declined to declare strikes by doctors illegal but said it hoped that doctors, being life savers, would not resort to strike.
The court was hearing a petition by an NGO, People for Better Treatment (PBT), opposing a doctors' strike back in 2012, and seeking that it be declared illegal.
The NGO's lawyer, MN Krishnamani, argued that the strike violates provisions in the Medical Council India and MCI should take action against striking doctors.
Chief Justice of India HL Dattu, who was heading the bench, said, "Lawyers also go on strike. There is no point in issuing directions. We should not pass any order which can't be implemented."
Dismissing the PIL, the court, in its order, said, "The relief sought in this PIL is commendable but difficult to grant. Therefore we express our desire that doctors, being saviours of life, should not resort to illegal strikes."
The PIL was filed in 2012, when a nationwide strike was called by the Indian Medical Association, which was protesting against certain reforms initiated by the Central government in the field of medicine. At the time too, the Supreme Court had declined to interfere in the matter.