Observing that working conditions have made doctors and health professionals susceptible to violence, the Supreme Court has constituted a 10-member task force to formulate a national protocol for ensuring safety and facilities for them in the wake of the rape and murder of a medic in Kolkata.
The task force will submit its interim report within three weeks and the final report within two months. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said protecting women doctors is a matter of national interest and principle of equality does not demand anything less.
The top court said the nation cannot await another rape for things to change on the ground. It said there are legislations to protect medical professionals but they do not address the systemic issues.
The ten members of the task force include surgeon Vice Admiral RK Sarian, Dr Reddy, Managing Director Asian Institute of National Gastrology, Dr M Srinivas, Director AIIMS, Delhi, Dr Prathima Moorthy, NIMHANS, Bangalore among others.
The bench said the cabinet secretary and the home secretary to the Union government shall be the ex-officio members of the national task force.
The top court directed the CBI to file a status report by August 22 on investigation in the Kolkata rape-murder case and West Bengal to file a status report by August 22 on progress of probe into mob attack on the RG Kar hospital.
The apex court was hearing a suo motu case related to the rape and murder of a postgraduate medic at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata amid the nationwide doctors’ strike over it.
“Please trust us,” the Supreme Court said on Tuesday while requesting the doctors protesting across the country over a Kolkata doctor’s alleged rape and killing to call off the strike and resume work.
The court said abstention from the work of doctors affects those segments of the society that are in need of medical care.
CJI Chandrachud reportedly said : “We cannot wait for another rape for things to change on the ground as more and more women join the work force.” He added that the existing enactments do not adequately address the institutional safety standards for doctors and medical workers.
The CJI also said: “Parents were permitted to see the dead body after several hours. The high court transferred the investigations to CBI. On eve of independence day, a large mob vandalised the hospital. We are unable to comprehend how the state was not able to handle the issue of vandalism at the hospital.”
