Kolkata Horror: SC Asks Protesting Doctors to Resume Duty, Says Will Ensure No Adverse Action

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday urged the protesting healthcare professionals to resume their duties and ensured that no action would be taken against them. While hearing the Kolkata rape-murder case, the three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said that the health infrastructure of the country would not be able to function otherwise. 

"Let the health professionals return to work and once they return to duties the court will prevail upon authorities to not take adverse action. How would the public health infrastructure function if doctors did not return to work," the court observed.

The CJI assured AIIMS Nagpur's counsel that no adverse actions will be taken against them once they resume their duties. The bench was responding to AIIMS Nagpur's counsel who said resident doctors were being victimised for protesting over the incident. The top court also took up the Central Bureau of Investigation and West Bengal government status reports related to the rape-murder and vandalism that took place in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical Hospital.

Following the Kolkata horror, medical professionals and students have been on streets demanding justice and safer working conditions for doctors. The apex court had, in its previous hearing of the case, urged the medics to return to work and ordered the formation of a National Task Force to suggest recommendations to ensure improved safety of workplaces, especially that of doctors and women professionals.

Probe by the CBI as well as the Kolkata Police revealed involvement of a civic volunteer, Sanjay Roy of the hospital in the crime. Meanwhile the central agency has continued questioning the former principal of RG Kar, Dr Sandeep Ghosh.