Expressing strong dissatisfaction with the authorities of the RG Kar Hospital over the delay in filing the FIR in the brutal rape and murder case of the trainee doctor, the Supreme Court has set up a national task force to suggest safe working conditions for healthcare professionals even as it rapped the Bengal government over its handling of the brutal rape and murder case of the trainee doctor.
“The autopsy revealed that the doctor was murdered, and the FIR was registered at 11.45 pm? What were the authorities at the hospital doing?” the Top Court said.
The 31-year-old doctor was found dead at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, sparking nationwide protests and strikes by doctors. A civic volunteer named Sanjay Roy was arrested by the Kolkata Police a day later.
The Supreme Court set up a national task force under its authority to suggest modalities for the safety of doctors at their workplaces. “It will have doctors from diverse backgrounds who will suggest modalities to be followed across India so that safety conditions at work are there and young or middle-aged doctors are safe in their work environment,” the CJI said.
The task force will constitute surgeon Admiral RK Sarian, Dr D Nageshwar Reddy, mangaing director of the Asian Institute of National Gastrology, Dr M Srivas, director AIIMS, Delhi, Dr Prathima Moorthy of NIMHANS, Bangalore, Dr Govardhan Dutt Puri, AIIMS Jodhpur, Dr Somikra Rawat of Gangaram Hospital, professor Anita Saxena, Pallavi Saple of JJ group of hospitals, and Padma Srivastava, chairperson (neurology) of Paras Hospital, Gurgaon.
The Supreme Court also urged the Bengal government not to take coercive action against the protesters. “Let not the power of the state be unleashed upon peaceful protesters. This is a moment for national catharsis,” the court said.
The CJI also pulled up the hospital and police over procedural lapses. “What was the principal doing? An FIR was not filed, the body was handed late to the parents. What are the police doing? A serious offence has taken place, the crime scene is in a hospital,” the court said.
The Supreme Court noted that the safety of doctors and women doctors was a matter of national interest and the principle of equality does not demand anything less. “The nation cannot await another rape for it to take some steps,” it said.
Emphasising the gravity of the case, the Supreme Court said, “We are dealing with a doctor who was not only raped by a sexual pervert but by an animal-like accused. Let us not make this a political issue and I request the Bengal government to not be in a denial mode.”
The Chief Justice also pulled up the government for appointing Dr Sandip Ghosh as principal of another prestigious college, Calcutta Medical College, after his resignation as the head of RG Kar Hospital. “When the conduct of the principal is under scrutiny, how was he appointed as a principal of another college immediately?”
At the outset, the Chief Justice expressed deep concern over the fact that the name of the victim, photographs and video clips showing the dead body were circulated all over the media. “This is extremely concerning,” the CJI said.
The CJI also questioned the state over the vandalism that took place at the hospital on August 14 during a midnight protest. “The hospital is invaded by a mob. Critical facilities were damaged. What was the police doing? The first thing the police have to do is to secure the crime scene,” CJI said.
The Supreme Court has asked the CBI to file a status report on the investigation by Thursday. The Bengal government has also been asked to submit a status report on the investigation into the vandalism incident.
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