Kolkata Doctor Rape and Murder Case: On Tuesday, August 20, the Supreme Court heard the rape and murder case of a Kolkata doctor and urged the protesting doctors to return to work, assuring them that their concerns “are given utmost attention” by the apex court. The three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud called the safety of the doctors and their demands a “matter of high national priority.”
“We request all doctors who have abstained from work across the country to resume work at the earliest. Abstention of doctors affects the segments of society who are most in need of medical care, especially in public health facilities. Doctors and medical professionals who have abstained can rest assured that their concerns are given utmost attention by the Supreme Court of India. This is a matter of high national priority,” the Supreme Court said in its order after hearing the matter from all parties.
The Supreme Court on resident physicians
The court noted that there are around 700 resident doctors at RG Kar Medical College, but after the attack on the hospital on the night of August 14, most of them left their workplaces.
“…as a result of which only 30 to 40 female doctors and 60 to 70 male doctors have remained in the shelters,” the Supreme Court stated.
The high court said it is “essential” to create safe conditions for interns, residents and senior residents to return to their duties in order to enable them not only to continue their education but also to provide medical care to their patients.
“Mr Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General, has assured the Court that Central Industrial Security Force/Central Reserve Police Force will be deployed in sufficient numbers at the RG Kar Medical College including the hostels where the resident doctors are staying to ensure their safety,” the order said.
Kapil Sibal, senior advocate appearing for the West Bengal government, said there was no objection to the deployment of central forces, as per the order.
“With the provision of central security at the Hospital, we hope and trust that the doctors will resume their duties at the earliest. Any concerns they may have regarding their safety may be raised in the form of a joint email between the doctors to the Registrar (Judicial) of this Court for further instructions,” SC said.
What did the Supreme Court observe during the hearing?
The Supreme Court on Tuesday announced that it will set up a 10-member task force to draft a national protocol aimed at ensuring safety and facilities for doctors. While hearing the horrific rape and murder case of the Kolkata doctor, the Supreme Court also urged the protesting doctors to have faith in the apex court.
The Supreme Court questioned the delay in submitting the report and the rush to re-appoint the director in another hospital. The Supreme Court has sought a status report from the CBI and has also sought a report from the West Bengal government on the RG Kar hospital rampage. The next hearing will be on August 22.
On the role of the former principal, the CJI said, “How did the principal try to pass off the incident as suicide? The body was handed over to the parents in the evening for cremation. The next day, doctors protested and a mob invaded the hospital and damaged critical facilities. What was the Kolkata police doing? The crime scene is in the hospital. The police have to protect the crime scene… what are they doing?”
FAIMA Medical Association says doctors will continue the strike until…
FAIMA Doctors Association President Dr Rohan Krishnan urged the Centre to implement the Central Protection Act for doctors and said until an Ordinance is passed, they will not return to work.
“In its notification, the Supreme Court has raised the issues of the doctors very well. We are grateful to the Supreme Court for this. It said that a National Task Force will be formed… The force has been told to ensure improvement in the living conditions and safety conditions of the doctors, and submit its opinion to the Supreme Court. This is a positive step. But the main issue of the strike is the safety of the doctors. For that safety, a law, an ordinance was passed during COVID – Central Protection of Health Workers Act… We demand that this law be passed once again through an ordinance and invoked. That has become essential for our protection. We spoke to resident doctors across India, all of them demanded that unless the Government takes concrete action on the CPA (Central Protection Act), we will not go back to work… FAIMA has decided that the protest will continue…” he said.
Kolkata doctor rape and murder case
On August 9, a junior doctor was raped and murdered while on duty at the hospital. Later, the 32-year-old woman’s half-naked body was found in the seminar room of the Kolkata government hospital. The next day, a civic volunteer was arrested in connection with the crime.
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