Supreme Court Orders Doctors to Resume Work Amidst Threats, Seeks New CBI Report in a Week

The Supreme Court heard a petition related to the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata. During the hearing, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) submitted a status report on the investigation. The West Bengal government also presented its status report to the court. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal informed the court that the state government had filed a report stating that when the doctors were not working, 23 people died. After the hearing, the court requested a new status report from the CBI, granting the agency one week to submit it. The court then adjourned the case until September 17.

The Supreme Court reminded that it had earlier directed that no action be taken against the doctors once they resumed work. The court remarked that if the doctors still do not return to work, it would not prevent the state government from taking action. Senior advocate Geeta Luthra responded by stating that the doctors were being threatened. The Supreme Court instructed the doctors to resume work by 5 PM the following day, assuring them that no action would be taken against them. However, the court warned that if they continued to remain absent from work, disciplinary action could be initiated.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) asked Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta about the distance between the residence of the principal of R.G. Medical College and the hospital. SG Mehta responded, “approximately 15-20 minutes.” During the hearing, SG Mehta emphasized that the victim was like a daughter to all of them, and the culprits should be punished as soon as possible.