"On Sep 27, we will stage a 'dharna' (sit-in) in front of the (state) secretariat. We will have one more round of talks (with chief minister) and if that too fails then we will have no option but to go on an indefinite strike from Oct 1," said a KGMOA official after meeting with the chief minister.

The doctors also announced that from Sep 6 they would start a "non-cooperation" strike when they will not perform duties other than examining patients at hospitals.

Later, Chandy told reporters that the decision to take action against the doctors was based on two reports submitted to the government.

"These reports point out that there were certain lapses on part of the doctors. We made it clear that the action was not disciplinary but based on the report. During the strike period, if any patient suffers then strict action would be taken against doctors," Chandy said.

A 24-year-old Bihari youth, S.S. Mann, was brought dead from a mental hospital here to the Medical College Hospital on Aug 4.

Action was taken against five doctors: One doctor appointed on contract basis at the mental hospital here, dismissed from service; two others transferred, and two doctors in Kollam district.

The KGMOA has been protesting against the government action.

Mann, who was suffering from a mental illness, was earlier arrested for creating a ruckus at spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi's Ashram near Kollam on Aug 1. Later, he was sent to a police station and moved to two government hospitals in Kollam.

A crime branch probe was ordered Aug 6 and two employees of the mental hospital were arrested.