The protesting doctors also had a meeting with Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and voiced their demands and concerns over their security in front of the CM. The doctors have demanded better working conditions and infrastructure improvements healthcare in the two-hour-long meeting held at the state secretariat, Nabanna.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister urged the junior doctors to end their ‘fast-unto-death’, stating that most of their demands had been addressed. However, she refused to entertain their demand of removing the state Health Secretary.

“In the meeting with the CM, we did get the assurance of some directives. The common people have stood by us throughout and wholeheartedly supported us. The common people as well as the parents of our deceased sister (RG Kar hospital victim), have been requesting us to call off the hunger strike, keeping in mind our deteriorating health. We are therefore withdrawing our ‘fast-unto-death’ and also Tuesday’s total shutdown in the health sector,” one of the protesting doctors said.

The R G Kar case and protests

A 31-year-old trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered inside Kolkata’s R G Kar Medical College and Hospital on the 9th of August this year. The horrific crime took place around 4 a.m when the trainee doctor went to sleep in a seminar room of the hospital during a break from her duty.

Following this, junior doctors in Kolkata went on “cease work” following the incident and have been continuously protesting demanding that the culprits be arrested and punished. They have also been voicing concerns over the safety and security of doctors and other medical professionals working in night shifts within hospital premises.

The protesting doctors had a meeting with CM Mamata Banerjee earlier in September when she assured them that some of their demands will be considered. However, the doctors started a ‘fast-unto-death’ in Dharmatala in the heart of the city from 5th October alleging that the state government did not fulfil their demands.

‘Mass Convention’ on October 26

Kolkata’s protesting junior doctors have called a “mass convention” on the 26th of October to take a call on how to proceed with their agitation. The doctors have alleged that they are not satisfied after their meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee which was held at the state secretariat, Nabanna, on Monday. Some of the junior doctors have even alleged that their demands were not discussed in detail in Monday’s meeting.

Calcutta High Court stays suspension of junior doctors, CM reacts

Meanwhile, the Calcutta high court on Tuesday stayed the suspension of 59 junior doctors of Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. These doctors were suspended and 6 doctors were expelled for protesting against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor inside the hospital on the 9th of August.
Lawyer Arkaprava Sen, representing the suspended junior doctors told the media, “The court passed the stay order after we argued that the suspension and expulsion orders were in complete violation of natural justice.”

Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has also expressed disappointment at the college authority’s decision to suspend and expel protesting doctors. She said, “At R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, several junior doctors and medical students were suspended without following proper procedures and rules. How can these students or resident doctors be suspended just on the basis of complaints? Who gave the college authorities the right to take such a step without informing the state government? Isn’t this a threat culture?”

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The medical body announced in an official statement, “Across the country, IMA will hold a dawn-to-dusk fast from 6 AM to 6 PM on Tuesday, 15th October 2024. IMA will coordinate with RDAs and support their local actions.”

“Young doctors of Kolkata are on a fast-unto-death struggle for their legitimate demands. They are on their ninth day of fasting. Three of them have been hospitalised. The movement has the support of the people. IMA has appealed to West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee to accept their demands. IMA National President Dr. RV Asokan has visited the fasting doctors and the leaders of the movement,” the IMA further stated.

Meanwhile, the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) has also warned of a nationwide “complete shutdown of medical services” if any harm is caused to the protesting junior doctors.

Junior doctors in Kolkata march to Raj Bhavan seeking justice

On Monday, the protesting junior doctors marched towards Raj Bhavan in Kolkata to demand justice in the R G Kar Hospital junior doctor rape and murder case. They have delivered a memorandum to the Governor’s secretary.

Senior doctors, common people, including senior citizens and homemakers also joined the protesting junior doctors. The junior doctors are on a hunger strike for the last 11 days in Kolkata’s Esplanade. Due to the ongoing fast-unto-death, some of the protesting junior doctors have fallen critically ill and have been admitted to hospital.

The protesting doctors are unhappy with the charge sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the case, which has held civic volunteer Sanjay Roy responsible for the rape.

“We cannot accept what the CBI has stated in its charge sheet – only one person was behind the crime. We demand a quick and transparent investigation of the rape and murder of our sister at RG Kar Hospital. We are not going to the Raj Bhavan to meet the governor and seek his intervention. But we will be giving out our message to him,” Debasish Halder, one of the protesting junior doctors told PTI.

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The protesting doctors have stated that they will continue with their protest unless all the culprits associated with the alleged rape and murder of the junior doctor are arrested and punished. Their ongoing protests have led to disruption in healthcare services in the city, especially at state-run hospitals on Friday.

Supreme Court’s assurance to doctors

On Thursday, a bench led by the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud assured protesting doctors that it would ensure no adverse action is taken against them and asked them to resume their duties as healthcare services are being severely affected due to the ongoing protests. The bench, also comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, expressed deep concern over the delays and apparent irregularities in the investigation by Kolkata Police. The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the junior doctor rape-murder case in Kolkata, which was followed by nationwide protests from the medical fraternity and citizens.

The bench was informed that the protesting resident doctors from AIIMS Nagpur are being marked absent and are not being allowed to sit for their exams. Reacting to this, the CJI Chandrachud said, “Let them all return to work. We will pass some general orders; please rest assured that once doctors resume duties we will prevail upon the authorities to not take adverse actions. How will the public administrative structure run if they don’t resume work?”

National Task Force

The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered setting up a 10-member National Task Force (NTF) to make recommendations regarding prevention of violence and safe working conditions for medical professionals. The task force will submit its interim report within three weeks and the final report within two months. On Thursday, the CJI assured doctors’ associations across the country that their concerns would be heard by the National Task Force. The apex court has stated that the NTF should have a portal to receive anonymous complaints regarding security concerns from doctors. This observation was made after the court was informed that doctors inside the hospitals are still feeling terrorised by the members of the administration and goons in Kolkata.

Supreme Court reacts to work hours of doctors

The apex court has also reacted to the conditions under which resident doctors are made to work, especially prolonged shifts in government hospitals. Due to such working conditions, the council said, the doctors are not in a physical or mental state to resist even when somebody harasses them. “We are deeply concerned about the inhuman working hours of resident doctors across the country. Some doctors work 36-hour shifts. The committee appointed should look into streamlining the on-duty hours of all doctors. 36- or 48-hour shifts are just inhuman” the CJI expressed.

Supreme Court’s instruction to West Bengal Govt

The Supreme Court also asked the state government of West Bengal to not reprimand those peacefully demanding justice for the deceased junior doctor. Stating that the Government of West Bengal is free to take action against those involved in the incident of vandalism at R.G Kar Medical College and Hospital on 14th August, the court observed that those protesting peacefully against the brutal crime should not be penalised or disturbed in any way.

Doctors call off protest in other cities

Reacting to SC’s appeal, junior doctors resumed duty in several parts of the country including Mumbai and Delhi on Friday. “We are resuming duties following the Supreme Court’s appeal and assurances and intervention in the R G Kar incident and safety for doctors. We commend the Court’s action and call for adherence to its directives. Patient care remains our top priority,” the official account of Resident Doctors’ Association of AIIMS, New Delhi mentioned in an X post on Thursday.

Resident doctors at Mumbai’s Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital announced on Thursday that they were withdrawing their 11-day strike protesting against the rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata, following an appeal from the Supreme Court.

On 9th August, a 31-year-old junior doctor was allegedly brutally raped and murdered at Kolkata’s R.G Kar Medical College and Hospital. The case has been transferred from Kolkata Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following an order by the Calcutta High Court on 13th August. Meanwhile, a Kolkata Police Civic Volunteer named Sanjoy Roy has been arrested in connection with the case and is currently in CBI custody.

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As a result of this, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has made certain demands which include having airport-like security protocol at hospitals with CCTV and deployment of security personnel, thorough overhaul of the working and living conditions of the resident doctors due to lack of safe spaces to rest and lack of proper washrooms within the hospital.

But what about Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital where a brutal incident of rape and murder has left the entire nation shaken? The picture is not very pleasant inside the British era hospital established in 1886, which is among the premiere Government Hospitals in Kolkata and West Bengal.

Lack of restrooms, clean drinking water and infested by cats

In an exclusive interaction with The CSR Journal, a doctor associated with the hospital who does not wish to be named, told us, “There are lack of proper restrooms and resting areas in most of the departments in this Hospital. Lack of washroom and access to safe drinking water are two major issues in this hospital.”

Revealing the shocking condition of the hospital where patients lie on the floors and cat poop is found almost everywhere, the doctor said, “There are patients sleeping on the floors because the government has a policy that no patient should be refused admission as that is bad PR. So, any patient who comes has to be admitted even if it goes beyond the authorised bed strength. In this hospital, cats and kittens are found everywhere, which make the hospital dirty by pooping here and there. They are found in large numbers in this hospital and we are concerned because they spread diseases and infection. The hospital is infested with cats. If there is a room with 30 beds, you will find at least 10 cats over there.”

Working hours of resident doctors

When quizzed about how many hours resident doctors have to be on duty at R.G Kar Medical College and Hospital, the doctor said, “Resident doctor means you are supposed to stay in the hospital almost all the time, round the clock 24*7 unless you are on leave. Residents man the ward, they man the OPD, they do the duty and at the end they get a degree. They are the heart and soul of the hospital. In India there are no strict laws talking about how many hours a resident doctor is supposed to work. A part of the ongoing protests and struggles is also to regularise these laws and understand how many hours a resident is supposed to work for. Right now it depends on the Head of your Department, on your unit chief etc. We should have codified laws specifying the number of working hours for residents and after how many days does a resident deserves a day off whether once a week or once in every 10 days, all these should be mentioned in that law.”

CISF at R.G. Kar

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Tuesday has ordered to deploy Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) security at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital amid protests by junior doctors and citizens across Kolkata and several parts of India. “If women are not able to go to work and conditions are not safe, we are denying them equality,” the Supreme Court said on Tuesday while hearing the Kolkata doctor rape and murder case.

Supreme Court on the Kolkata junior doctor rape and murder case

The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the Kolkata doctor rape-murder case which has raised serious questions regarding the safety of doctors across India. A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and comprising justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra is currently hearing the matter.

Saying that it is “deeply concerned” about the absence of safe working conditions for young doctors, the apex court expressed, “Most young doctors putting in 36 hours, we must evolve national protocol to ensure safe work conditions.”

The Supreme Court has sought an explanation from the West Bengal government regarding the incident of vandalism at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital on 14th August. Chief Justice of India Chandrachud expressed serious concern at the fact that the mob called the lady doctors by their name and threatened that they would meet the same fate as that of the deceased. The CJI also questioned why the police ran away from the spot.

The apex court also questioned about the college authorities trying to pass off the crime as suicide and R G Kar Hospital’s principal Sandip Ghosh being appointed to another college within a few hours of his resignation. Currently, Ghosh, who has multiple allegations against him, is being grilled by the CBI which is investigating the matter.

Ahana Bhattacharya can be reached at ahana@thecsrjournal.in

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On 9th August, Friday, a 31-year-old chest medicine department post graduate trainee doctor, was brutally raped and killed at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, an incident which has shaken the entire nation. Meanwhile, four doctors of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital have been reportedly summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Kolkata on Friday amid the ongoing protests.

Vandalism at Kolkata Hospital

Several departments of the R. G. Kar Medical College in Kolkata were vandalised on Wednesday evening. A large group of unidentified miscreants entered the Hospital around 12.40 am on Thursday and vandalised hospital property while junior doctors’ were protesting at the premises against the horrific rape and murder. The group also targeted the makeshift protest-dais. The incident took place at a time when midnight protests named ‘Reclaim the Night’ were being held by women against the crime.

While BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has alleged that the vandalism was carried out by “TMC goons” sent by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the CM has blamed the midnight violence on “politically-motivated outsiders who wish to create issues in the state.” The police have so far detained 12 persons for their alleged involvement in the incident.

The IMA says

A statement released by the Indian Medical Asociateion (IMA) reads, “Subsequent to the brutal crime in R. G. Kar Medical College Kolkata and the hooliganism unleashed on the protesting students on the eve of the Independence Day, Indian Medical Association declares nationwide withdrawal of services by doctors of modern medicine from 6:00 a.m. on Saturday 17th August to 6:00 a.m. on Sunday 18th August for 24 hours. All essential services will be maintained. Casualties will be manned. Routine OPDs will not function and elective surgeries will not be conducted. The withdrawal is across all the sectors wherever modern medicine doctors app providing service. IMA requires the sympathy of the nation with the just cause of its doctors.”

The IMA in its statement has mentioned, “Doctors especially women are vulnerable to violence because of the nature of the profession. It is for the authority is to provide for the safety of doctors inside hospitals and campuses. Both physical assault and crimes are result of indifference and insensitivity of the concerned authorities to the needs of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers.”

Rape and murder of junior doctor in Kolkata

On 9th August, Friday, a 31-year-old chest medicine department post graduate trainee doctor, who was on duty on Thursday night at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was sexually assaulted before being murdered inside the hospital’s seminar hall, her post-mortem report has revealed.

Rallies, gatherings and candlelight marches are being held by students, junior doctors and citizens across India to protest against this brutal incident and demand justice. A civic volunteer was arrested the day after the crime, who is currently in CBI custody.

“The woman was bleeding from her eyes, mouth and private parts with injuries on her face, belly, left leg, neck, in her right hand, ring finger, and lips,” mentions her autopsy report. The post-mortem report further stated that the cause of death was smothering and throttling. There were abrasion marks and bruises on the victim’s face, extending from the eyes to the neck.

Meanwhile, PTI reported citing a police officer that there was circumstantial evidence also indicating a possibility that the doctor was first murdered and then raped.

A petition filed by the victim’s parents in Calcutta High Court said that the autopsy found 150 mg of semen in the victim’s body, “a quantity suggesting involvement of more than one individual, further corroborated the suspicion of gang-rape.”

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The chest medicine department student, who was on duty on Thursday night at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, was sexually assaulted before being murdered inside the hospital’s seminar hall, her post-mortem report has revealed.

Protests and candlelight marches by students, doctors, citizens and members of opposition parties are going on in front of the hospital and adjacent areas. Doctors at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College have announced a strike, demanding proper investigation and justice and enhanced security measures on the campus. The protesting doctors said in a statement, “All the interns, house surgeons, and resident doctors of RG Kar have decided to go for a complete cease-work until their demands are met.”

Seeking an official clarification on the status of the investigation and details of the arrested man, the protesting doctors have demanded that the trial be carried out in a fast-track court and the culprit should be given exemplary punishment for the heinous crime at the earliest.

The protesters are also demanding that security measures on the hospital premises should be enhanced by having a higher number of police personnel inside the campus, increasing CCTV cameras with round-the-clock real-time monitoring and restricted entry into areas like doctors’ rooms and seminar halls where nobody without proper uniform and identity card should be allowed.

Protests across India demanding justice

Doctors across India are staging protests demanding justice in Kolkata’s brutal rape and murder case. The ongoing protests have severely affected healthcare services such as outpatient departments (OPDs) and elective surgeries in many government hospitals. Everywhere the scene is similar where there are long queues outside OPDs in government hospitals and surgeries are being rescheduled as junior doctors refuse to work.

FORDA’s demands

The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) has stated that the strike will continue until justice is served and their demands are met. These include immediate action on the concerns of residents at RG Kar Medical College, protection against police brutality, respectful treatment of protesting doctors, and justice for the victim’s family.

The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has also called for a nationwide shutdown of OPD services starting August 13.

Lucknow

Resident doctors at medical institutes across Uttar Pradesh staged a protest demanding speedy justice in the rape-murder case. Resident doctors have started a protest march at King George’s Medical University at Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow with placards in their hands. The protesting doctors have stopped work at outdoor patients’ department (OPD) and elective surgery leaving patients and their families in a helpless condition.

Doctors at Kalyan Singh Super Speciality Cancer Institute and Hospital (KSSSCIH) tied black badges on their wrists while the doctors of Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences are also demanding a speedy probe into the matter. Dr Ritika Ranjan, the president of the resident doctors’ association at KSSSCIH said, “We demand a CBI probe into the case and the implementation of robust security for staff across medical institutes.”

Agra

Doctors also staged protests at Jhansi’s Maharani Laxmibai Medical College, UP University of Medical Sciences in Saifai and SN Medical College of Agra.

Delhi

Doctors in Delhi are staging protests against the incident demanding a CBI probe into the matter and enhanced safety of women doctors in hospitals.The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), which normally handles around 10,000 OPD patients daily, has seen a 20 percent drop in registrations as doctors there took part in the ongoing protests.

Bengaluru

The Karnataka State Chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has demanded a speedy and impartial investigation into the case, and exemplary punishment for the accused. However, as per reports, it is likely that there are more than once accused in this case who have not yet been nabbed.

“We demand that the authorities act with precision and in a time of 48 hours, failing which the IMA will be constrained to initiate nationwide action. An ultimatum of two days is given to arrest the culprits, failing which the IMA will hold nationwide protests,” IMA state president Prof Dr S Srinivas said in a statement on Monday.

Resident doctors from NIMHANS also joined the indefinite protest at the institute’s campus on Monday, demanding justice for the victim. Posters have been issued by the Association of Physicians of India which has urged doctors to wear black badges in solidarity and to display the message in their clinics.

Jaipur

Doctors and medical students of Sawai Man Singh Medical College have started protesting against the brutal incident.

Patna

While Junior doctors across West Bengal continued with ceasework on Tuesday, Patna medical students are protesting in OPD over Kolkata doctor’s death and rape case.

Bengal CM’s deadline to Kolkata Police

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday visited the residence of the victim and stating that it feels like a personal loss to her, the CM has said that she will hand over the case to CBI if Kolkata Police fails to crack case by August 18. The CM has also lent support to the ongoing protests by junior doctors and assured that the case would be handled by a fast-track court. She has also said that the accused would be hanged if needed.

Protesting doctors react

However, the agitating junior doctors on Tuesday set a deadline of August 14 for the Kolkata Police to complete their investigation. “Why do they need a deadline till Sunday? We are asking the police to complete their investigation by Wednesday. The ceasework and protest will continue till our demands are met. We have been very clear about our demands. We want a judicial probe into the incident,” a protesting junior doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital said.

Medical College Principal resigns, reappointed by state Govt

Citing defamation on social media, R G Kar Medical College and Hospital’s Principal Dr. Sandip Ghosh resigned on Monday morning, but the West Bengal Government appointed him as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital (CNMCH), triggering further outrage from junior doctors, interns and house staffers.

Calcutta High Court slams state Govt

The Calcutta High Court has slammed West Bengal Government for ‘protecting’ the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Principal Dr Sandip Ghosh. The Chief Justice has questioned the appointment of the principal, who had resigned taking moral responsibility as the head of another government college. The Chief Justice instructed him to submit a leave application by 3 p.m. today or face a court order mandating his removal from the position.

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