There is anger among the people across the country after the Kolkata rape and murder case. The CBI has started investigating the case and on Monday, former principal of RG Kar Medical College, Sandapi Ghosh was questioned for about 13 hours. Doctors are still on strike. The protesting doctors in Kolkata have called for a march to the Health Bhavan today. The case is also to be heard in the Supreme Court today. A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud took suo motu cognizance of the incident and has placed the case on top of the cause list for hearing on Tuesday at 10:30 am.
The apex court may order a judicial inquiry into the ongoing protests across the country, especially the doctors’ strike and their concerns. At the same time, experts say that after a concrete solution is found from the Supreme Court, the doctors may also withdraw their strike.
In fact, a new intervention application has been filed amidst the court’s suo motu cognizance of the matter. A lawyer has approached the Supreme Court for permission to intervene in it. The petition states that the law is there, but it is not being implemented at the ground level. Vishakha guidelines are not followed at workplaces. There should be a judicial inquiry in every case of rape and murder, so that bias and pressure can be avoided and the real culprits can be saved. The petition has demanded the formation of a committee of three retired judges who can monitor the CBI investigation in the case.
Doctors’ organisations Federation of Associations of Medical Consultants of India (FAMCI) and Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) and advocate Vishal Tiwari have also approached the apex court by filing interim applications in the suo motu case.
According to the August 20 cause list uploaded on the Supreme Court website, the bench will consist of Chief Justice Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra.
In its petition, FAMCI has raised concerns about the safety of medical personnel in hospitals across the country in the absence of any central law and said that despite the demand for basic safety measures, medical personnel continue to work in a risky environment. The doctors’ organization said that the Center should be asked to prepare uniform guidelines to ensure the safety of health workers and to remove the shortcomings in state-level laws.
It says, “Resident doctors in medical colleges (public and private) and doctors in government hospitals should be formally declared as ‘public servants. Police posts should be mandatorily set up in the premises of municipal hospitals.”
Similarly, FORDA, in its intervention application filed through advocates Satyam Singh and Sanjeev Gupta, said physicians have devoted 10 to 11 years of rigorous education and training, including medical school and residency, to save lives and serve society. “Healthcare workers play an indispensable role in society, often working under challenging conditions to provide care and save lives. Ensuring their safety is paramount. We urge the judiciary to mandate comprehensive security protocols at RG Kar Medical College and other similar institutions to protect them from any kind of threat or violence,” FORDA said.
It said the attack on the doctors violated several fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution, such as the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21, the right to practice any profession or to carry on any occupation, trade or business under Article 19(1)(g), and the right to equality before the law under Article 14.
Advocate Vishal Tiwari in his petition highlighted the recent rape and murder cases in various states and said, “We have said in our application that such cases should be investigated through judicial inquiry.”
Let us tell you that the doctors have been on strike for a week over this issue. Due to this, patients are facing problems. The protesting doctors want the CBI to catch the culprits and the court to give them maximum punishment. They also want an assurance from the government that no such incident will happen in future.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)