New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed concern over the safety of doctors and medical staff across the country, taking suo moto notice in the rape and murder case of a female junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College-Hospital in Kolkata. The Supreme Court has formed a 10-member National Task Force to formulate protocols to ensure the safety of doctors and medical staff. Also, the CBI has been asked to submit a status report related to the investigation of this case by Thursday. In addition, the Supreme Court slammed the Mamata government for the delay in registering the FIR, the delay in allowing the parents to see the victim and the vandalism of the hospital by thousands of people in this shocking case. The Supreme Court has also asked the state government not to abuse power on peaceful protesters and social media posts. Further hearing has been adjourned to August 23. Describing the rape and murder of a female junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata as ‘horrific’, the bench headed by Chief Justice Dhananjaya Chandrachud said that the issue is not only with the Kolkata case but with the safety of doctors across the country. is involved. The country cannot wait for any new incident of rape. The bench, chaired by Vice Admiral Aarti Sarin, constituted a 10-member task force, which asked it to submit an interim report within three weeks to draw up a protocol on the security of doctors and other medical staff across the country. The report has been asked to be submitted. Besides, the state government has also been asked to submit a report on the action taken against the people who rioted in the hospital. In addition, concern has also been expressed against the identity of the victim being revealed on social media, photographs and video clips of the incident going viral. He has directed all social media to remove these pictures and video clips from their platforms.
CISF deployed in hospital to protect doctors:
Taking serious note of the vandalism of the hospital by the protesting mob and the Kolkata Police fleeing the scene, the bench ordered the deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to protect the doctors at the hospital and requested the doctors to return to work. The bench said that after the murder of the female junior doctor, the state government is expected to take immediate steps to prevent breakdown of law and order. But the state government has totally failed to do so.
Women need to be given rights to safe environment-equality:
The bench added that the matter is not limited to Kolkata. This case is a systemic issue and concerns the safety of doctors and medical professionals across the country. We doctors across the country are concerned about the safety of women doctors in particular. We cannot provide a safe environment for women to work and if they do not feel safe, it will be a violation of their right to equality and equal opportunities. He added that resident doctors and senior residents are on duty for up to 36 hours and they do not have basic hygiene conditions and sanitation facilities. The hospital does not have adequate number of toilets. There is no transportation arrangement. CCTVs are not working in hospitals.
