RG Kar case hearing LIVE: SC asks doctors to return to work, sets deadline

The court said the protesting doctors cannot be oblivious to the needs of the general community.

Update: 2024-09-09 05:15 GMT
Protests have continued to rage across West Bengal, including capital city Kolkata, for a month, seeking justice for the victim of rape-murder at RG Kar hospital | PTI

Exactly a month has passed since the body of a woman postgraduate trainee doctor, raped and murdered, was recovered from the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

While investigators still seem clueless about what led to the crime that has opened a can of worms, the Supreme Court on Monday (September 9) heard a suo-motu case as protests continue to rage across West Bengal, including capital city Kolkata.

What SC said

"Protest cannot be at the cost of duty," the Supreme Court said as it directed the West Bengal doctors protesting over the rape and killing of a postgraduate medic at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata to return to work immediately.

A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud directed the protesting doctors to return to work by 5 p.m. on Tuesday and assured them that no adverse action would be taken if they resumed duty.

"The state of West Bengal must take steps to create confidence in the minds of the doctors that their concerns regarding their safety and security are being duly attended to. In order to ensure this, all the district collectors and SPs (superintendents of police) shall take stock of the situation in all government medical colleges and public hospitals and provide adequate safety.

"We also direct that in the event the doctors return to duty on or before 5 pm (on Tuesday), no adverse disciplinary action should be taken against them. If there is continued abstention of work, there may be a likelihood of adverse action," the bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said.

The court said the protesting doctors cannot be oblivious to the needs of the general community. "Any protest cannot be at the cost of duty. The young doctors must now return and attend to the patients. We know what is happening on the ground. First, return to work. The district collectors and superintendents of police will ensure (your) safety. You have to now return to work," the bench said.

Follow more live updates below:

Live Updates
2024-09-09 10:18 GMT

2024-09-09 10:11 GMT

The Trinamool Congress hailed the Supreme Court direction asking protesting doctors in West Bengal to resume work by 5PM on Tuesday and said the primary duty of the medics is to save lives and this commitment cannot be compromised.

"Protests can't be at the cost of duty."- Hon'ble Chief Justice of India We express our gratitude to #SupremeCourt for stepping in & directing doctors, who have been abstaining from their duties over the R G Kar tragedy, to return to work by 5 PM tomorrow. The ultimate duty of a doctor is to save lives, and this commitment cannot be compromised. We humbly urge them to abide by their sacred oath to care for those in need," the party posted on X.

2024-09-09 07:31 GMT

CJI: Any protest cannot happen at the cost of duress.

CJI: We want to ensure that if doctors resume work, they are in a system to render service, we will provide facilities but they have to reciprocate.

2024-09-09 07:26 GMT

CJI: We know what is happening on the ground, but doctors must now come back to work. They cannot say senior doctors are working, so we will not work. We have put everyone on notice.

2024-09-09 07:25 GMT

CJI: State in affidavit indicated that funds have been sanctioned for carrying out the safety measures...This shall be monitored by the District Collectors. In order to create a sense of confidence, we state that in the event that doctors come to work by 5 pm tomorrow, no adverse actions.....If there is continuous abstention from work despite the facilities given, there will be likelihood of action in future.

2024-09-09 07:24 GMT

CJI: State of West Bengal must take steps to create a degree of confidence in the minds of doctors that concerns regarding their safety will duly be catered to. The police shall ensure that necessary conditions are created for ensuring the safety of all doctors, including provisions for separate duty rooms, toilet facilities, installation of CCTV cameras.

2024-09-09 07:16 GMT

CJI: We can record that if doctors resume work, no adverse action will be taken. But if they do not resume work as doctors, we cannot restrain the state government from taking action.
Luthra explains that several doctors are facing bullying and threats. Some doctors are offering voluntary treatment outside the hospital. Women doctors should get toilets, rooms to rest, and safety precautions.

2024-09-09 07:14 GMT

CJI: Do we record that on assurance of all counsels for doctors, they will return and not abstain?
Luthra: Of the senior doctors, 200-odd are on duty, but junior doctors are not on duty. The ones not on duty in Kolkata and periphery, people are getting threats, they say we know your father is in government job, etc.

2024-09-09 07:11 GMT

Sibal submits that 23 people have died since doctors are not coming back to work, 6,000 people have been affected. "They (doctors) don't go to work, lordship said last time they must go back to work, therefore lordships should indicate that if they don't go back to work proceedings be initiated," says Sibal.

2024-09-09 07:08 GMT

CJI: Tell us by next day what steps have been taken on the ground. Let the district collectors engage with the heads of the medical colleges and ensure steps are taken by next week.

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