The Supreme Court is set to hear the case involving the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee at RG Kar Hospital on Monday. In the wake of this tragic incident, junior doctors from various government hospitals in West Bengal, joined by community members, organized torch rallies across Kolkata on Sunday. They are demanding justice for the murdered doctor and calling for enhanced security measures at their workplaces.
The protests were fueled by a sense of outrage and fear, stemming from a series of violent incidents targeting medical professionals. Just last Friday, doctors at Sagore Dutta Hospital were assaulted by outsiders after a patient’s death. This incident, coupled with the alleged attack on three doctors and three nurses earlier this month, has further intensified the doctors’ demands for improved security.
The doctors have also expressed their intention to consider resuming a complete ‘cease work’ in medical colleges if the state government fails to provide adequate assurances regarding their safety during the upcoming court proceedings. They have been vocal about their demands since the beginning of the protests, emphasizing that they will not return to their duties without guarantees for their safety.
The Supreme Court has already expressed concern over the investigation into the rape and murder case, as outlined in a status report submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The court, however, has refrained from disclosing specific details to avoid compromising the ongoing investigation. The court has also requested a status report from the CBI regarding its inquiry into allegations of financial irregularities involving Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital.
In anticipation of the Supreme Court hearing, Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma visited R G Kar Medical College and Hospital on Sunday to assess security measures. He inspected the hospital’s emergency department and met with police personnel. This visit comes after a mob vandalized the emergency department on August 15, a day after the Calcutta High Court ordered the transfer of the rape-murder investigation from Kolkata Police to the CBI.
The Calcutta High Court has taken a serious view of the allegations surrounding a threat nexus in medical colleges. On September 26, the court directed the state government to submit an affidavit addressing the claims made in a public interest litigation. The petitioners have raised a number of concerning issues, including a culture of threats in state-run medical colleges and hospitals, the sale of examination answer keys, bribery, corruption, and incidents of sexual harassment and abuse involving medical students and junior doctors.
The doctors’ demands for justice and improved security resonate with the concerns of the public, who are deeply troubled by the escalating violence against medical professionals. The Supreme Court’s verdict on Monday is eagerly awaited, as it holds the potential to bring justice for the victim and alleviate the fears of doctors who are working tirelessly to serve the community.
