National Desk, 9th September: The Supreme Court of India has directed striking doctors in West Bengal to return to their duties by 5 PM on September 10, warning of potential disciplinary actions if the strike persists. The court’s decision aims to prevent disruption of medical services and mitigate patient suffering.
The bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and including Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, criticized the West Bengal government’s handling of a case involving the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital. The court expressed concerns over a 14-hour delay in filing the FIR and the absence of a crucial document required for the post-mortem.
Chief Justice Chandrachud questioned the missing challan necessary for the autopsy and remarked on the lack of formal requests for the post-mortem. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, highlighted issues with evidence collection and forensic reports, including improper storage of blood samples and discrepancies in the timing of the death report.
The CBI plans to forward samples to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi for further analysis. The court also sought clarification on CCTV footage and evidence handling, emphasizing the critical nature of the early hours in such investigations.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the West Bengal government, assured that all procedures were documented and witnessed by a judicial magistrate. The court’s directive and ongoing scrutiny underscore the urgency and seriousness of the investigation and the need for effective resolution.