With no positive approach from the West Bengal government towards solving the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital impasse that stemmed from the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old on-duty junior doctor on Ausust 9, the indefinite hunger strike of junior doctors to press for their demands entered the 11th day on Tuesday.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday also heard pleas related to the medic's death and has asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to submit further status report within three weeks. Noting that there were no National Task Force meeting held in West Bengal since September, SC urged Centre to take proactive steps to ensure the orders are met.
On October 5, the doctors' hunger strike began right after nearly 50 days of 'cease work' in two phases.
11th day of indefinite hunger strike: Key points
As of Tuesday, seven junior doctors continued their hunger strike, with several requiring immediate medical attention. Two more doctors participating in the 'fast-unto-death' in Esplanade area of Kolkata fell ill.
On Sunday night, agitating junior doctor Pulastha Acharya from NRS Medical College and Hospital was admitted to the Critical Care Unit (CCU) after complaining of severe stomach pain.
Moreover, the health condition of another junior doctor Tanaya Panja Kolkata Medical College and Hospital worsened significantly as well. She was promptly transferred to CCU as she lost consciousness.
The latest junior doctor to join the fast was from the ENT department of North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, who began the hunger strike on Monday afternoon.
Another failed meeting on Monday
In line with the several previous meetings with the government officials leading to no positive development in the ongoing deadlock, another crucial meeting between the medics and Chief Secretary Manoj Pant held at Swasthya Bhavan on Monday concluded without any resolution.
Addressing the media, Pant told the doctors insisted on a clear timeline to address their demands, but the government said no such deadline can be given. Answering questions about the government's apparent inaction, Pant added that seven out of the 10 demands raised by the junior doctors have already been addressed, while the remaining three required further administrative consideration.
"For the remaining three demands, they were requesting specific timelines. These are administrative decisions that the state needs to consider, so we cannot provide a deadline at this point," Pant said.
Doctors met West Bengal Guv, submit memorandum
The junior doctors on Monday led a march to Raj Bhavan in Kolkata and submitted a memorandum to Governor CV Ananda Bose. As per reports, a delegation of five junior doctors, including Mostafi Ahmed, Debashish Halder and Satyadip Sarkar, met the governor.
However when asked whether any assurance was given, junior doctor Debashish Halder said,"We met the governor and handed over the deputation. He has not promised us anything."
"We cannot accept what the CBI has stated in its charge sheet -- only one person was behind the crime. We demand a quick and transparent investigation of the rape and murder of our sister at RG Kar hospital," Halder further added.
'Droher Carnival': Doctors' parallel carnival of protest
Amid the state government's decision to gear up for organising the Durga Puja Carnival on Tuesday to showcase the Durga idols, the junior doctors, in a peaceful counter-response, organized 'Droher Carnival' (carnival of protest) on the same day.
The agitating medics are expected to highlight corruption and irregularities that happened under this TMC-led government. They have also invited the chief minister and the chief secretary to join their carnival.
The junior doctors clearly mentioned that if the state government wanted to remove the deadlock, they needed to come to the hunger strike venue and have a fruitful conversation with the doctors there instead of a closed-door meeting.
Durga Puja Carnival: BJP calls for boycott
Opposing the state government's decision to hold the massive carg=nival amid the ongoing protest over the RG Kar row, senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on Monday urged the people of West Bengal to boycott the 'Durga Puja Carnival' organised by the TMC government.
"As per Hindu ritual, there is no mention of any form of carnival during Durga Puja. We don't know where the state government discovered this idea. However, we feel that this carnival should be boycotted as a mark of protest and in solidarity with the junior doctors' agitation," he told reporters. The carnival is scheduled on Wednesday.
The Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly said the rally would be held from College Square to Esplanade. "It will be without any party flags, and we request people to join us as it is being organised for the safety and security of women in the state," he said.
Supreme Court Hears Pleas Related To Kolkata Medic's Rape-Murder Case
A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra heard the matter. At the outset, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the (Central Bureau of Investigation) CBI, informed the bench that investigation was going on in the matter with "utmost seriousness"
As SC asked for a status report for the case so far, the bench noted chargesheet in Kolkata rape-murder case filed on October 7 against accused Sanjay Roy and a Sealdah court has taken cognisance.
On the issue of the National Task Force (NTF), constituted to make recommendations over the safety and security of medical professionals, the apex court noted that it had held no meeting since the first week of September. The apex court, therefore, directed the Centre to take proactive steps to ensure that the work was completed within a reasonable period of time.
"The meetings of the NTF should happen periodically and all sub groups should hold regular meetings," the bench said while directing it to formulate recommendations on safety of Kolkata doctors within three weeks.
Back in August during a hearing, the top court had constituted a 10-member National Task Force to formulate a protocol for ensuring the safety and security of doctors and other healthcare professionals.
The apex court said, "CBI report indicates probe into role of others in alleged Kolkata rape and murder case is subject of ongoing probe."
The CBI has been asked to file another status report within 3 weeks by the Supreme Court.
The SC questioned West Bengal government over hiring of civic volunteers, seeks details on appointments and qualifications and directed the state government to inform about steps so that civic volunteers are not posted in hospitals, police stations.
During the last hearing on September 30, SC had expressed dissatisfaction over the "tardy" progress made by the West Bengal government over the installation of CCTVs and construction of toilets and separate resting rooms in government medical colleges, and directed the state to complete the ongoing work by October 15.
The Supreme Court posted further hearing after Diwali vacations are over.
Cal HC Allows Protesters' Carnival In Kolkata
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday set aside prohibitory orders imposed in areas adjacent to the Durga Puja Carnival venue on Red Road in the city.
The orders under Section 163 of BNSS were imposed on some roads and areas near the Red Road where the state-organised 'Puja Carnival' is scheduled to be held on Tuesday evening, amidst calls for 'Droha' (protest) carnival on nearby Rani Rashmoni Road in central Kolkata by junior doctors agitating over the RG Kar incident.
On a prayer by junior doctors challenging the imposition of the prohibitory order, Justice Ravi Krishan Kapur set aside the restrictions imposed by the state government.
The West Bengal government has been holding the Durga Puja Carnival since 2016 showcasing several award-winning idols in the city.
