Kolkata Doctor Case: Doctors are given two days to return to work… Protest cannot happen at the cost of duty, why did SC say this

New Delhi: During the hearing of the rape and murder case of a woman doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital, the Supreme Court has asked the CBI to file a status report by May 17. The Supreme Court expressed concern over the 14-hour delay in filing a case by the Kolkata Police in the matter. It has also been said that the doctors who are on strike should return to work by Tuesday evening and their safety has been ensured. No action will be taken against the doctors who return to work. If you do not return to work, then no one can be held responsible for the disciplinary action taken against you. Protest cannot be done by leaving the duty.

23 people died due to doctors’ strike

Kapil Sibal, the lawyer appearing on behalf of the West Bengal government, said that doctors are on strike and due to this 23 people have died so far. On behalf of the CBI, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta presented the status report of the CBI investigation in a sealed envelope. After seeing the report, the Supreme Court said that the investigation is in progress and we direct the Supreme Court to present a new status report. We do not want to guide the CBI on how to conduct the investigation. The CBI should present a new status report on September 17. Mehta, appearing on behalf of the CBI, said that the CBI has decided to send the forensic samples to AIIMS for investigation.

Back to work by Tuesday

During the hearing, the Supreme Court has directed the doctors of West Bengal to return to their work. The doctors of the state are on strike after the rape and murder of a female doctor in the hospital. The Supreme Court said that if the doctors return to work by Tuesday evening, no action should be taken against them. Earlier, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing on behalf of the state, said that 23 patients have died due to the strike.

No action against doctors returning to work

Sibal said that no punitive action will be taken against the doctors who return to work and neither will they be transferred as a punishment. During this, the Supreme Court also said that the state government should ensure that the safety of doctors is ensured in hospitals and safe working conditions are ensured. The state government should ensure the assurance of doctors that they will be protected. The police should ensure the safety of all doctors and also ensure that there is a separate duty room, toilet facility and CCTV camera etc. for doctors.

Measures to ensure safety

Earlier, the Health Secretary had filed an affidavit stating that funds for CCTV have been sanctioned. Along with CCTV, measures have been taken to ensure security in KG Kar Hospital and other government hospitals. The Supreme Court has asked the District Collector to monitor the safety measures along with the SP. West Bengal Government lawyer Sibal said that 23 patients have died due to the doctors’ strike and six lakh patients have been deprived of treatment. The system has collapsed due to the doctors’ strike. Many resident doctors are not seeing patients in the OPD. Sibal said that the Supreme Court had asked the doctors to return to the strike but it was not followed.

Doctors are getting threats

Senior advocate Geeta Luthra, on behalf of the Association of Resident Doctors, said that the doctors are protesting because they are apprehensive and are being threatened in all ways. Doctors are serving outside the hospital. During this, Chief Justice Chandrachud has said in his/her oral comment that we give two days’ time. Young doctors should return to their work. We know what has actually happened on the ground. You should return to work first. The District Collector and SP will ensure safety. You should return to work. If you do not return to work, then no one can be held responsible for the disciplinary action taken against you.

‘You cannot refer to seniors’

The apex court said that you cannot say that the seniors are working and we will not. Protests cannot be done by abandoning duty. If the doctors do not return to work, we cannot stop the government from taking disciplinary action. We want the doctors to return to work. We will ensure facilities and safety but you will have to act in return. The Supreme Court has fixed September 17 as the date for the next hearing.