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.
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
- 9 Sept 2024 3:48 PM IST
#WATCH | On Supreme Court hearing on RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape-murder case, Advocate Geeta Luthra says "As far as the matter of doctors is concerned, we have been saying that they should get protection. When they hold protests out of duty hours, no one should have… pic.twitter.com/Xg0p3QN2PG
— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2024 - 9 Sept 2024 3:41 PM IST
TMC hails SC direction asking protesting doctors to resume work
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.
- 9 Sept 2024 1:01 PM IST
Doctors must reciprocate: SC
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.
- 9 Sept 2024 12:56 PM IST
Doctors must return to work: CJI
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. - 9 Sept 2024 12:55 PM IST
CJI warns of action against doctors on cease-work
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. - 9 Sept 2024 12:54 PM IST
CJI directs state to take steps to create confidence in minds of doctors
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. - 9 Sept 2024 12:46 PM IST
If doctors don't resume work, we can't restrain state from taking action: CJI
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. - 9 Sept 2024 12:44 PM IST
Counsel claims doctors not on duty are facing threats
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. - 9 Sept 2024 12:41 PM IST
Sibal flags deaths due to doctors' protest
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. - 9 Sept 2024 12:38 PM IST
CJI seeks to know about steps taken on the ground
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.
