LIVE | Kolkata horror: SC forms task force for doctors’ safety; medics to continue stir
Top court forms task force to make recommendations pertaining to safety, working conditions, and wellbeing of medical professionals; urges protesting doctors to resume work
Amid spiralling nation-wide protests over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the Supreme Court on Tuesday (August 20) ordered the formation of a 10-member National Task Force (NTF) to formulate a protocol for ensuring the safety and security of doctors and other health care professionals.
Treat protesters with sensitivity: SC tells govt
Terming the incident as "horrific", the apex court excoriated the state government over the delay in filing the FIR and allowing thousands of miscreants to vandalise the state-run facility.
It also asked the West Bengal government to not unleash the "power of the State" on peaceful protesters and to deal with them with "great sensitivity in this moment of national catharsis".
The 10-member task force headed by Vice Admiral Arti Sarin has been asked to submit its interim report within three weeks.
CBI asked to submit status report
The Supreme Court, which directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a status report on the progress made in its investigation into the killing, also asked the state government to submit a report on the action it has taken against the vandals.
The court also expressed its deep concern over the name of the victim, her photographs and video clips showing her lifeless body having been splashed all over the media.
Taking a serious note of mob violence in the hospital and the allegation that the Kolkata police fled the scene, the top court ordered deployment of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at the hospital to enable doctors to resume work.
SC raps state govt, college
"In the aftermath of the brutal incident and the demonstrations which followed, the state government was expected to ensure the deployment of the state machinery to prevent a breach of law and order.
"It was all the more necessary to do so since investigation of the crime which took place in the precincts of the hospital was under way. We are unable to comprehend how the State was not prepared to deal with the incident of vandalisation of the premises of the hospital," the top court said.
The bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud criticised the ex-principal of RG Kar Medical College Dr Sandip Ghosh for trying to pass off the case as that of suicide and not letting the parents of the deceased to see her body for several hours.
"What was the principal doing? Why was this inaction to first pass this as suicide and not registering an FIR. Body is handed to the parents for cremation late in the night. On the next day, the doctors are on protest and a mob assembles at the hospital.
Incident raises systemic issues on safety of docs: SC
"The hospital is invaded and critical facilities are damaged. What was the police doing? A serious offence has taken place and the crime scene is within the hospital. The police should have protected the crime scene. How can the police allow vandals to enter the hospital. After the principal resigned, he is sent to another hospital. When his conduct was under scrutiny, how was he appointed to another college immediately," the bench, also comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, observed.
The bench said what has taken place in Kolkata is not just a horrific murder but an incident which has raised systemic issues about the safety of doctors.
"We are deeply concerned that there is a virtual absence of safe work conditions across the country, particularly in public hospitals. Most of the young doctors have to put in 36 hours of work.
"We find that there are no duty rooms available, or separate restrooms for men and women doctors and nursing staff. We must evolve a national consensus that there must be a national standard protocol so that safe work conditions are provided," the bench said.
If women cannot go to their place of work safely, then we are denying them equality, the apex court said.
State’s defence
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the West Bengal government, refuted the observations and submitted that Kolkata police took all necessary action. He said he will place on record all the facts.
"Photos and videos were circulated before the police reached the crime scene. We didn't allow anything to happen and cordoned off the area. Inquest was done and a case of unnatural death was registered immediately. We caught the culprit who was a civic worker. This is not adversarial litigation," Sibal told the court.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said a mob of 7,000 people could not have assembled at the hospital without the knowledge and consent of the police.
"Let West Bengal government not be in denial mode, there is complete failure of law and order in the state. A girl has lost her life due to a sexual pervert and an animal," Mehta said.
Sibal said over 50 FIRs have been registered following the vandalism incident and 37 people have already been arrested.
The top court asked the West Bengal government to not take coercive action against people holding peaceful protests and speaking up on social media.
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- 20 Aug 2024 4:40 PM IST
Please trust us, resume work: SC tells protesting doctors
"Please trust us," the Supreme Court said on Tuesday while requesting the doctors protesting across the country over a Kolkata doctor's alleged rape and killing to call off the strike and resume work.
The court said abstention from the work of doctors affects those segments of the society that are in need of medical care.
"We earnestly appeal to all the doctors that we are here to ensure that their safety and protection is the matter of highest national concern. Please trust us, that is why we have not left the matter to the high court. We felt this is not just a matter of a serious offence but which affects the institution of healthcare pan India. Therefore the need for the Supreme Court to take up the matter," a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said.
The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association welcomed the apex court's intervention in the Kolkata incident, saying it will serve the interests of the medical fraternity.
"Since this court is seized of the matter pertaining to safety and well-being of all medical professionals at workplaces, we would request all the doctors abstaining from work across the country to resume work at the earliest. The abstention from the work of doctors affects segments of the society who need medical care the most. The doctors and medical professional shall stand assured that their concerns are receiving the highest concern from the highest court from a diverge range of counsels," the bench said.
- 20 Aug 2024 4:37 PM IST
SC's observations raise questions on Mamata govt's mindset: BJP
The BJP on Tuesday said the Supreme Court’s observations in the rape and murder case of a medic in Kolkata have raised serious questions on the “mindset and morality” of the Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal.
The party asserted the Centre will leave "no stone unturned" to ensure justice to the victim.
Latching on to the developments in the case, BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi also targeted the Congress and its allies, saying if the Constitution is under threat today, it is in West Bengal and the states ruled by the opposition INDIA bloc constituents.
He also accused the Mamata Banerjee-led government of taking action against those seeking justice for the victim and asked people to imagine what would have been the scenario in the country if any of the constituents of the INDIA bloc had been in power at the Centre.
“The questions that the Supreme Court has asked in connection with the case are serious questions on the mindset and morality of those running the government,” the BJP spokesperson said at a press conference at the party headquarters.
“We all know how efforts were made to suppress the incident… It has become clear that the TMC government is shamelessly engaged in protecting the criminals. In this episode, the role of INDI alliance has also become clear,” he added.
Trivedi alleged the INDIA bloc partners are standing together to protect each other’s crime with Kapil Sibal, former Congress leader elected to Rajya Sabha as an independent candidate with support of the Samajwadi Party, appearing in the Supreme Court on behalf of the West Bengal government in the matter.
“There is no if and but left now. They are all standing together to support each other’s crimes. They are the same people who stood in support of every separatist and terrorist in the court. They have once again stood in support of a notorious criminal in the court today,” he said. “It is now clear that the Constitution is under threat in the states ruled by INDI alliance partners. Not just the Constitution is under threat, but life and dignity as well,” he added.
- 20 Aug 2024 3:56 PM IST
TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy to delete post, state not to take action, lawyers tell HC
Lawyers for TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, whose social media post seeking interrogation of Kolkata police commissioner by the CBI in the RG Kar medical college and hospital rape and murder case, and the state on Tuesday told the Calcutta High court that they have reached a settlement on the issue.
Roy's lawyer told the court he has agreed to delete the X-handle message in which he sought custodial interrogation of the police commissioner and ex-principal of the medical college, while the state's counsel said they will not take any action against him in connection with the issue.
Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj, hearing both the parties, said he will pass an order on Wednesday in this regard after Roy deletes the social media message and the state submits a report in this regard staying that it will not take any subsequent action against him.
The state's counsel stated before the court that no coercive measure will be taken against the TMC Rajya Sabha MP in West Bengal in the meantime before the order is passed.
- 20 Aug 2024 3:52 PM IST
Delhi's RML Hospital ends strike; doctors' body welcomes SC intervention
The central government-run RML Hospital on Tuesday called off its nine-day strike it had been observing in protest against the rape and murder of a Kolkata medic, even as other resident doctors' bodies hailed the Supreme Court's intervention in the case.
The RML RDA said it called off the strike after the Centre's acceptance of all demands put forward by their peers from across India.
"The Ministry of Health and the Medical Superintendent's office have assured that all necessary permissions for enhanced security measures at medical institutions have been obtained, with a 45-day timeline set for implementation. The ministry also pledged to tighten security across all central government hospitals and issue advisories to state governments," Ram Manohar Lohia resident doctors' association said in a statement.
The doctors said though they have agreed to suspend their strike, they will continue to advocate for justice in the RG Kar case.
The doctors will resume duties from 4 pm and there will be no deduction of salary during the strike period.
- 20 Aug 2024 3:26 PM IST
BJP slams Rahul for 'don't distract me' comments
The BJP has slammed Rahul Gandhi after the Congress leader told media not to "distract" him with questions on the Kolkata rape-murder case during a protest in Rae Bareli, his constituency.
Rahul, who is in Rae Bareli, where a Dalit man was shot dead, said that he has already spoken about the Kolkata rape-murder case ṣoon after the incident.
"I am in Rae Bareli to support the victim's family. I will not let you distract from this matter. I will speak on Kolkata doctor rape and murder case later," he told reporters.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said that Rahul's remarks are an "insult to the victim" and "all women".
"When asked about RG Kar medical case & SC slamming Bengal govt & police Rahul Gandhi shamelessly says 'I won’t be distracted'. Is Nyay for Beti a distraction? Those who speak about Sanvidhan, about Ladki hoon lad sakti hoon & visit victims homes in UP call a grave injustice “distraction” because it happened in Bengal. This is an insult of the victim & of all women," he said on X.
- 20 Aug 2024 2:50 PM IST
Centre sends security SOP to central govt hospitals
In a letter to heads of central government hospitals and institutes including AIIMS/INIs, the Union Ministry of Health Family Welfare asked them to enhance security measures on their premises.
“It has been evidenced for a long time that government hospitals are more permeable to the public compared to private facilities, making it easier for unauthorised individuals to enter freely. While accessibility is important for providing care, it can also pose security risks,” the letter said.
“Hospitals sometimes become targeted by acts of violence, including assault on staff, which can be related to disputes, dissatisfaction with medical care, or external criminal activities. Ensuring the safety of healthcare professionals is vital,” it added.
Stating that violence and harassment against staff can disrupt operations and affect the quality of care provided to patients, the ministry called for a comprehensive approach to security that balances accessibility with effective measures to protect patients, staff and the integrity of the facility.
It instructed hospitals to take the following measures:
- Proper display of relevant penal provisions of the state legislation to prevent violence against healthcare workers on hospital premises.
- Sufficient number of high-resolution CCTV cameras at strategic locations.
- Setting up of control room for quick response to an emergency situation.
- Deployment of at least one admin staff at the control room.
- Employment of an adequate number of well-trained security guards for proper monitoring/patrolling/surveillance of premises
- Strict monitoring of entry and exit to allow entry of authorised persons only.
- Identification badges for staff, patients, and visitors.
- Display of I Card by all hospital staff while on duty to be made mandatory.
- 20 Aug 2024 2:40 PM IST
Scuffle breaks out between ABVP workers, Kolkata Police at protest site
A scuffle broke out between police personnel and ABVP activists during a march to Swasthya Bhavan, the headquarters of the West Bengal health department, in Salt Lake area to protest against the rape and murder of an RG Kar hospital medic.
The protestors demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who also doubles up as the state's health and home minister.
The police had put up barricades at several roads leading to Swasthya Bhavan, which the ABVP activists tried to break through, a senior officer said.
"We only seek the resignation of the chief minister. The incident which happened at the hospital is unimaginable," a woman member of ABVP said.
- 20 Aug 2024 2:25 PM IST
Calcutta HC allows BJP's demonstration from Aug 21-25
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday allowed the West Bengal BJP to stage a demonstration near Shyambazar metro station in the city for five days from August 21 to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The state's counsel submitted that the demonstration be allowed for only one day, claiming that a five-day sit-in would affect the convenience of the general public.
The BJP's lawyer prayed for permission to hold the demonstration for six days from Wednesday.
After hearing both parties, Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj allowed the BJP to stage the sit-in at the proposed venue, which is around half a kilometre away from the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, for five days.
The court directed that the demonstration be held with not more than 300 participants from 12 noon to 9 pm every day from Wednesday to Sunday.
- 20 Aug 2024 2:23 PM IST
Bengal govt’s attitude ‘insensitive’ towards doctor’s rape-murder: Dharmendra Pradhan
Deploring the alleged "insensitive attitude" of the West Bengal government to the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Tuesday said a "fear psychosis" has gripped the children of the country following the ghastly crime.
Pradhan, who was talking to reporters on the sidelines of a programme of IIT Kharagpur in the city, said the respective governments at the state and Centre must abide by the directives of the Supreme Court on the issue.
"But the world has been witness to the insensitivity of the state government, the 'don't care' attitude, and the unsuccessful effort to hide evidence," he said.
Asserting the Supreme Court has raised basic questions advocating strong steps about this incident in Bengal, Pradhan said it is shocking that a democratically elected state government which came to power on 'Maa Mati Manush' slogan has become "deaf to the cries" of justice of its people.
