Supreme Court Urges Striking Doctors to Resume Work Amid Safety Concerns.

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court of India has called for an end to the ongoing strike by doctors, urging them to return to work following the rape and murder of a post-graduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, emphasized the urgent need for medical services and assured the doctors that no adverse actions would be taken against them if they resumed their duties.

During Thursday’s hearing, the court addressed concerns raised by lawyers representing various doctors’ associations regarding potential disciplinary measures. The court stressed that the primary issue is the impact on public health if doctors continue their strike. “How can public health infrastructure run if doctors don’t resume work?” the Bench remarked.

In response to demands for enhanced security measures, the Supreme Court directed the Union Health Secretary to collaborate with state Chief Secretaries and Directors General of Police to implement safety protocols, including installing CCTV cameras at hospital and hostel entrances. The Court has given state governments and Union Territories two weeks to address these safety concerns.

The Court also requested the formation of a National Task Force (NTF) to review the doctors’ demands, including the installation of distress call systems linked to police stations, prompt FIR registration for crimes, and the establishment of compensation funds for distress situations. Additionally, the NTF is tasked with examining the inhumane working hours for resident doctors, some of whom endure 36-hour shifts.

The Supreme Court’s intervention follows its suo motu cognizance of the case and its efforts to ensure that the medical community’s safety and operational concerns are adequately addressed.