Supreme Court Urges Kolkata Rape-Murder Protesting Doctors to Resume Work

The Supreme Court of India on Thursday commenced its hearing on the tragic case of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata. In a decisive move, the court urged doctors participating in nationwide protests to return to work, assuring them that no adverse action would be taken against them. The Chief Justice of India (CJI) emphasized the critical need for doctors to resume their duties, stating that ‘once doctors resume duties, we will prevail upon authorities to not take adverse actions.’

The court’s directive comes after resident doctors at AIIMS Nagpur informed the Supreme Court that they are facing victimization for their involvement in the protests. The court highlighted the significant impact of the doctor’s absence on public health, posing the critical question, ‘How will public health infrastructure run if doctors do not work?’

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is actively investigating the case and is expected to submit a status report on the investigation’s progress. The horrifying incident, which has sparked nationwide outrage, involves the rape and murder of a trainee doctor whose body was found inside the seminar hall of the hospital’s chest department on August 9th. A civic volunteer was subsequently arrested by the Kolkata Police for his alleged involvement in the crime.

The Supreme Court, deeply concerned about the safety of doctors across India, has taken suo motu cognizance of the case, establishing a National Task Force to recommend safety guidelines for medical professionals. The court underscored the importance of ensuring the safety of women in the workplace, stating that ‘If women cannot go to work and be safe, we are denying them the basic right to equality. We have to do something.’ The case continues to be a pressing issue, demanding swift justice and comprehensive measures to address the safety concerns of medical professionals and the wider community.

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