The Supreme Court of India has issued an urgent call for enhanced protection of healthcare professionals across the country, following the tragic rape and murder of a young doctor in Kolkata. A bench led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, in a suo motu hearing, directed both the central and state governments to collaborate on establishing a robust national protocol for the safety of medical personnel.
This directive comes amidst allegations of mishandling and potential cover-up by the Kolkata Police in the investigation of the doctor’s death, which occurred at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), highlighted discrepancies in the case proceedings, including delayed FIR registration and discrepancies in the timing of the post-mortem report, raising concerns about the integrity of the local investigation.
Chief Justice Chandrachud emphasized the crucial role of healthcare workers and the unacceptable nature of their vulnerability to such incidents. He mandated the Union Ministry of Health’s secretary to work closely with state chief secretaries and directors general of police to ensure prompt and effective implementation of safety protocols. The court specified that this collaborative effort be finalized within a week.*
During the proceedings, Mehta revealed that the initial response by local authorities was to label the incident as a suicide, which was later changed to murder after pressure from the victim’s family and colleagues who suspected foul play. The victim’s body, which showed signs of severe trauma, was only discovered inside a seminar hall on August 9, with an FIR filed post-cremation at 11:45 pm.
The Supreme Court also addressed the ongoing protests by medical professionals demanding justice and better security, stating that peaceful demonstrations should not be disturbed by the West Bengal government. Furthermore, the court warned against any coercive action against the protesting doctors, underlining the need for their presence in the healthcare system.
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The National Task Force (NTF), established by the apex court, has been tasked with gathering input from all stakeholders, including doctors’ associations, to formulate comprehensive safety measures. The court also initiated the creation of a portal managed by the Union health ministry to facilitate the submission of suggestions and feedback on improving doctor safety.
