‘Supreme Court Remarks Disheartening, Protests Will Not Die Down’: IMA Bengal

Kolkata: Expressing disappointment over the observations made by the Supreme Court during the hearing over the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar medical college, Indian Medical Association ( IMA ) Bengal Unit on Monday said that protests in the Kolkata will not stop as they are standing in full support with junior doctors who are demanding justice. 

IMA Bengal also questioned the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over its approach in this case. The medical body said that no steps are being taken for timely justice.    

Disappointed By CBI's Approach

“We were eagerly waiting for the hearing of the Supreme Court today regarding the brutal murder and rape of an on-duty doctor in RG Kar Medical College dated 9th of August. We were expecting a positive outcome keeping in mind the brutality of the offense. However, we are totally disheartened by the proceedings of the court and CBI. No step was taken for a speedy trial to deliver justice to our colleague,” IMA Bengal said in a statement. 

“We were even more disheartened to learn that the Hon'ble Supreme Court has asked the junior doctors, who are the forerunners of this protest, to return to work by 5 pm tomorrow,” the medical body added. 

IMA Bengal also expressed shock, stating that some court observations made by advocates suggested that the protesting doctors were being portrayed as culprits.

“It was also very much shocking to note the way the junior doctors were portrayed as responsible for few deaths in the hospitals is totally false and in no hospital, the service is completely hampered due to the movement of the junior doctors. As we all know our junior colleagues are protesting for a speedy and fair justice for the heinous crime against Abhaya and also fighting against the health syndicate so that this sort of crime and corruption never happens in the future,” IMA Bengal said. 

No Steps Taken Against Health Syndicate 

“But we are sorry to say that neither CBI has shown a positive move towards speedy justice nor the state government has taken any drastic step against this health syndicate. In this situation, IMA promises to stand by the junior doctors unconditionally in all their future movements. IMA vows to the entire medical fraternity and the common people that the protest will not die down. In the coming days, it will even become stronger and we will not keep any stone unturned till we get justice,” the medical body stated. 

SC says Won’t Be Able to Restrain Bengal Govt If Doctors Remain Absent

On Monday, during the hearing of the case concerning the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the Supreme Court instructed that no action should be taken against doctors as long as they return to work by 5 pm the following day. However, the court warned that if the doctors do not comply, it would be unable to restrain the state government, and continued absence might result in disciplinary measures.

In the midst of ongoing protests regarding the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a state-run hospital in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged doctors to resume their duties and denied claims that she had offered money to the family of the deceased doctor, who was raped and murdered in Kolkata.

On August 9, a second-year postgraduate medical student was raped and murdered inside a seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College.