The Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud argued that the matter has brought to light the poor safety conditions of doctors and other women workers across India. He further said that a national task force, comprising of doctors from across the country, will be formed under the authority of the bench to make recommendations on improving the safety of doctors’ working conditions.
Here are the top observations by the Supreme Court:
- Today we intend to pass an order. We are setting up under the authority of this court a national task force consisting of doctors from different parts of the country, to make recommendations in regard to modalities to be followed across India for ensuring safety at the workplace.
- We want the CBI to file a status report on Thursday to this court, we will consider it on Thursday and see where it is proceeding.
- Doctors’ safety is of highest national concern, and we request doctors to trust us. The matter affects the institution of healthcare pan India.
- Deeply concerned about the virtual absence of safe conditions for young doctors across the country in public hospitals.
- Safety and security in the workplace is Constitutionally granted under the Equality clause.
- Not just a matter related to single murder case in Kolkata but it raises systemic issues on safety of doctors.
- Deeply concerned about the virtual absence of safe conditions for young docs across the country in public hospitals.
- Not for women or doctors alone, but matter of creating safe working conditions is important.
- Safety should be maintained in terms of protocol and not just on paper but enforced across nations.
- Concerned by the name of the victim being published all over the media, photographs, and video clips before and after post mortem.
- We must evolve a national consensus to evolve a standard national protocol.
- Let not the power of the state of West Bengal be unleashed on peaceful protestors.
The case, officially titled “In Re: Alleged rape and murder incident of a trainee doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata and related issue,” has drawn nationwide attention. Furthermore, the Supreme Court’s intervention is seen as significant, particularly because the Calcutta High Court has already handed over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The doctors’ strike over the rape and murder of the medic completed a week on Sunday and is now entering its second week, causing difficulties for patients.
The protesting doctors want the CBI to catch the culprits and for the court to impose the maximum punishment on them. They also want an assurance from the government that “no such incidents occur in the future”.
