In response to the horrific rape and murder of a young doctor at RG Kar Hospital, junior doctors in Kolkata announced on Monday evening that their protest will continue until justice is served. This decision came shortly after the Supreme Court set a deadline for the doctors to return to work by 5 PM on Tuesday.
The protesting junior doctors emphasized that their demonstration is more than just a strike—it’s a people’s movement. They urged the government and the Supreme Court not to overlook the significance of their protest.
Junior Doctors Express Discontent with Supreme Court Ruling
At the epicenter of the strike, RG Kar Hospital, a representative of the junior doctors expressed their dissatisfaction with the outcome of the Supreme Court hearing. “The case has been transferred from the High Court to the Supreme Court and from the state police to the CBI, but we are still waiting for justice,” the representative said.
The doctors also accused the state government of providing misleading information to the Supreme Court. They claimed that the government’s assertion that the healthcare system had not collapsed during the strike was false. The state health department countered this in an affidavit, stating that 23 patients had died due to the ongoing strike.
IMA Supports the Junior Doctors
The Bengal branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has voiced its support for the junior doctors. In a statement, they said, “We are disheartened by the court and CBI processes. Despite our expectations for a speedy trial, no progress has been made. It’s concerning that junior doctors are being blamed for hospital deaths, when services have not been entirely crippled by the protest.”
Junior doctors have been on a month-long ‘cease work’ at state-run hospitals, demanding justice for their murdered colleague.
Supreme Court Orders Doctors to Return to Work
During Monday’s hearing, the Supreme Court directed the protesting doctors to resume work by Tuesday evening. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud stated, “To instill confidence, we direct that if the doctors return to work by 5 PM tomorrow, no adverse action will be taken. However, if the abstention from work continues despite the facilities provided, there will be consequences in the future.”
Government’s Stance on Patient Deaths
The state government informed the court that 23 patients had died due to the strike, a claim that the junior doctors refuted. The doctors stressed that hospital services have not been entirely disrupted and accused the government of fabricating claims to undermine their protest.
