New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said nation cant wait for another rape to see changes on ground stressing on female doctors safety in hospital in the backdrop of the rape and murder of 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Medical professions have become vulnerable to violence. Due to ingrained patriarchal biases, women doctors are targeted more.
As more and more women join the workforce, the nation cannot wait for another rape for things to change on the ground, CJI Chandrachud said.
The judgement was passed when a three-judge Supreme Court bench comprising CJI Chandrachud was hearing the RG Kar case.
The top court has also constituted a National Task Force for recommendations on doctors safety in hospitals.
The task force comprising top doctors has been asked to file an interim report within three weeks and a final report within two months.
It will make recommendations on safety, working conditions, well being of medical professionals and other cognate matters, said Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.
Supreme Court blasts Bengal govt on RG Kar incident
The Supreme Court on Tuesday came down heavily upon the West Bengal government, which is at the receiving end of the public anger, over the 31-year-old lady trainee doctors rape and murder at Kolkatas major state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital questioning the delay in filing of the First Information Report and inaction against the controversial ex-principal of the college.
A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud asked the government counsel why there was a three-hour delay in filing the FIR from the time (8:30 pm) when the dead body was handed over for cremation.
CJI Chandrachud said, What was the principal, and the hospital board, doing during this time?
It appears crime was detected in the morning. The hospitals principal tried to pass it off as suicide and the parents were not allowed to see the body. No FIR was filed, the CJI added.
The government counsel Kabil Sibal argued the information was incorrect and the FIR was registered immediately.
The Supreme Court, which took suo-motu cognisance of the incident, has questioned the state governments reappointment of Dr. Sandip Ghosh as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College within hours after he resigned from the same post at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Dr. Ghosh was asked to take leave by the Calcutta High Court, which has directed a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the rape-murder.
The top court has asked the CBI to file a report by Thursday, the day when the next hearing has been scheduled.
