In a latest development in the constantly evolving row over the brutal rape and murder of a on-duty 31-year-old junior doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, agitating junior doctors in West Bengal resumed their indefinite "total cease work" on Tuesday following alack of positive approach from the government aiming to fulfil their demands.
'No Positive Approach From Govt': Doctors Resume Complete Ceasework In Kolkata | RG Kar Case
The case pertains to a trainee doctor of the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital of West Bengal's Kolkata whose body with severe injury marks was found inside the seminar hall of the facility's chest department on the morning of August 9. On September 21, the junior doctors rejoined their duties partially at government hospitals after a 42-day protest.
"We do not see any positive approach from the state government to fulfil our demands for safety and security. Today is the 52nd day (of the protest) and we are still being attacked and there is no attempt to keep the other promises made during the meetings with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. In the given situation, we are left with no option other than opting for full cease work, starting today," Aniket Mahato, one of the agitating junior doctors, told PTI.
"Unless we see clear action from the state government on these demands, this complete cease work will continue," he added.
On September 21, the junior doctors rejoined their duties partially at government hospitals after a 42-day protest.
The Supreme Court on Monday expressed dissatisfaction over West Bengal Government's progress in installation of CCTVs, construction of toilets and separate resting rooms, as per the apex court's earlier verdict and called it "tardy".
The top court also directed Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to submit a report on progress of National Task Force and posted the hearing in the rape-murder case to October 14.
On the eve of the scheduled Supreme Court hearing in the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital rape and murder case of West Bengal's Kolkata, junior medics from various government hospitals in the state participated in torch rallies across the city on Sunday, demanding justice for the victim - a 31-year-old trainee doctor who was found dead on August 9 at a room of the state-run medical facility.
The case pertains to a trainee doctor of the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital of West Bengal's Kolkata whose body with severe injury marks was found inside the seminar hall of the facility's chest department in the morning of August 9.
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Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, was on August 10 arrested on allegations of raping and killing the trainee doctor A CCTV footage and a Bluetooth device found near the medic's body resulted in the arrest of Roy, who was allegedly seen entering the seminar hall of the college where the body was found at around 4 am.
Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder Case | Key Updates
SC Hearing: The Supreme Court on Monday reiterated its earlier order that no intermediary is allowed to publish the name and photo of the victim in the case.
As the hearing commenced, advocate Vrinda Grover told a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra that the parents of the deceased victim are disconcerted by repeated clips in social media disclosing her name and photos.
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The top court said it had already passed an order on this issue and it was for the law enforcement agencies to implement the order. It clarified its earlier order and said it applies to all intermediaries.
Further, the bench noted that substantial leads have come up in the CBI investigation and it has given statements on both aspects including alleged rape and murder and the financial irregularities.
During the hearing, the apex court asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for CBI, who are the people under probe still employed in R G Kar Hospital against whom financial irregularities are alleged and asked it to share the information with the state government for appropriate action.
Supreme Court bench then called Bengal government 'tardy' for the lack of progress in installing CCTV cameras, construction of toilets and separate resting rooms for medics in state-funded RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
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On the issue of doctors' protest, the West Bengal government told the bench that resident doctors are not performing inpatient department and outpatient department work.
The submission was opposed by senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for resident doctors, who said they are performing all essential and emergency services.
The top court then directed Mehta to submit a report on progress of National Task Force and posted the hearing in the rape-murder case to October 14.
The Supreme Court had last week listed for September 30 the hearing on a suo motu petition on the Kolkata RG Kar Medical College & Hospital rape and murder case. The matter was earlier listed on September 27 and a bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud changed the date to September 30 on request of West Bengal Government counsel. In the last hearing on September 17, Kapil Sibal, senior counsel appearing on behalf of the State of West Bengal informed the court that the Chief Minister held out an assurance to that effect to the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front that no adverse or punitive action shall be taken against the doctors who return to work.
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Bengal Medics Gold Torch Rallies: Junior medics from various government hospitals in West Bengal, along with members of the public, participated in torch rallies across the city on Sunday, demanding justice for the murdered doctor of RG Kar Hospital and calling for improved security at their workplaces. The rallies were organised from several key locations, including RG Kar Hospital, Sagore Dutta Hospital, SSKM Hospital, Calcutta Medical College, and Jadavpur in South Kolkata. The rallies converged at various significant junctions throughout the city, such as Esplanade, Shyambazar, Park Circus, and Gariahat.
Junior Doctors' On Resuming Total Cease Work: Having returned to work after a month-long agitation, the junior doctors on Saturday expressed their intention to consider resuming total 'cease work' in medical colleges, contingent on the state government's assurances regarding their safety during the upcoming court proceedings. Junior doctors in Kolkata, who were spearheading the protests over the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case, called off their strike on September 19, 2024 after 41 days, and resumed essential services in hospitals on September 21.
Kolkata Top Cop Visits RG Kar Hospital: Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma visited RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Sunday afternoon to assess security measures ahead of the Supreme Court hearing. He also toured the hospital's emergency department, according to a news agency PTI report. On August 15, a mob vandalised the hospital's emergency department amid a peaceful night protest in Kolkata, a day after the Calcutta High Court ordered the transfer of the rape-murder probe from Kolkata Police to the CBI. The city police is currently investigating this incident.
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