PRAYAGRAJ, May 23 -- Twenty resident doctors of Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital (SRNH) have been suspended following a three-day standoff between junior doctors and high court advocates, officials announced on Friday. Motilal Nehru Medical College (MLNMC) principal Dr VK Pandey initiated the action, acting on a preliminary report from a three-member inquiry committee. Officials stated that the doctors were found prima facie guilty, although a detailed investigation is still underway and is expected to conclude by May 25. All 20 suspended doctors belong to Unit 2, with 10 residents each from the surgery and orthopedics departments. They have been immediately barred from clinical and academic duties and directed to report daily to the chief superintendent's office. Authorities emphasised that the suspensions are temporary and subject to the inquiry's final outcome. The dispute originated around 6 am on Wednesday at the trauma centre, where an argument over the treatment of an injured female advocate escalated into a physical altercation between lawyers and resident doctors. The incident triggered a strike by junior doctors, disrupting healthcare services for three consecutive days since Wednesday. Outpatient departments (OPDs), pharmacy services, registration counters and diagnostic facilities remained shut, severely impacting patient access to treatment. The protesting doctors staged a sit-in, demanding better security measures. Simultaneously, high court advocates launched their own protest, alleging inaction despite an FIR being registered. They blocked traffic at Eklavya Crossing for three days, causing severe congestion across the city. The deadlock was finally resolved on Friday following intervention by district and police authorities. DCP (City) Manish Shandilya and ADM (City) Satyam Mishra successfully persuaded the advocates to withdraw their blockade after informing them of the suspension of the involved doctors. Traffic movement on the High Court flyover resumed shortly after on Friday afternoon. At the hospital, the impasse ended after discussions involving hospital authorities, the Resident Doctors Association and the Medical Teachers Association (MTA). MTA president Dr Dilip Chaurasia and secretary Dr Santosh Singh assured junior doctors of a fair and impartial probe, leading the doctors to call off their protest around 3:30 pm. Earlier visits by city magistrate Vinod Kumar Singh and SDM (Sadar) Abhishek Singh also helped facilitate the dialogue. Following the decision, doctors announced that all services, including OPDs and emergency care, would resume from 8:30 am on May 23. Dr Nripendra Singh Baghel, president of the doctors' association, said the decision was taken in the public interest, particularly in view of the ongoing heatwave....