Bengali doctors continue to protest against Kolkata terror incident despite Supreme Court appeal

Junior doctors in West Bengal's government hospitals will remain suspended despite a Supreme Court appeal to them to resume work. They have been protesting for the past 14 days against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Medical services at these medical institutions may still be affected.

Even as the state government transferred three RG Kar officials and canceled the posting of former director of the hospital Sandip Ghosh to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital (CNMC), doctors on Thursday (August 22nd) the commotion continued. Ahead of their decision, resident doctors at Delhi's AIIMS Hospital and RML Hospital announced that they would withdraw their 11-day strike following an appeal in the Supreme Court.

“We are back to work after the Supreme Court appeal and the assurance and intervention in the RG Kar incident and the safety of doctors. We commend the court for its action and call for compliance with its directives. Patient care remains our top priority,” New Delhi Resident Doctors Association AIIMS said in an article on X.

The Resident Doctors Association of RML Hospital said in a statement that they would resume work from 8am on Friday (August 23) “in light of the Supreme Court's intervention and the progress made in resolving their claims”. The strike was allegedly suspended as the SC has taken up the case and handed over the investigation to the CBI.

Earlier in the day, junior doctors in Bangladesh said their protests would continue as their demands were only partially met and they would await developments in the Supreme Court. “Our main demand for justice for our sister has not yet been met. We will wait for today's developments in the Supreme Court before making a decision. PTI in the morning.

The hearing began with the apex committee making a passionate appeal to protesting doctors across India and asking them to return to work. The court said “justice and medicine” cannot be stopped and all necessary directions are being issued to ensure their safety. It has not yet directed enforcement action against them.

The Supreme Court further said that the West Bengal government should not disrupt or disrupt peaceful protests over the incident. However, it said there was no prohibition on the state government from exercising such legal powers. “When we say peaceful protesters will not be disturbed, we also mean that appropriate protocols will be followed,” a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said.

The attack and murder of a female doctor in Kolkata sparked nationwide protests. On August 12, the Resident Physicians Association launched a nationwide protest demanding the suspension of outpatient services. Emergency services are operating as usual.

(Including PTI input)