New Delhi: The Kolkata rape-murder case will be heard in the Supreme Court today. The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the matter. Now the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) has filed an intervention application in the suo motu PIL in the Supreme Court in the Kolkata murder and rape case through its lawyers Satyam Singh, Sanjeev Gupta and AOR Thomas Omen. Let us tell you that the bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, taking cognizance of the incident, has placed the case on top of the cause list for hearing on Tuesday morning at 10:30 am.
Doctors’ association approached the Supreme Court
At the same time, doctors’ organizations Federation of Association of Medical Consultants of India (FAMCI) and Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), and lawyer Vishal Tiwari have also approached the apex court by filing an intervention application in the suo motu case. FAMCI in its petition raised safety concerns for medical personnel in hospitals across the country in the absence of any central law and said that despite demanding basic safety measures for years, medical staff are working in a risky environment.
Police posts should be set up on hospital premises
The doctors’ body said the Centre should be asked to frame uniform guidelines to ensure the safety of healthcare workers and address gaps in state-level laws. “Resident doctors in medical colleges (public and private) and doctors in government hospitals should be formally declared as ‘public servants’. A police post should be mandatorily set up on the premises of municipal hospitals,” it said. Similarly, FORDA, in its intervention application filed through advocates Satyam Singh and Sanjeev Gupta, said doctors have devoted 10 to 11 years of rigorous education and training, including medical school and residency, to save lives and serve society.
Doctors should be given protection
FORDA has said, “Healthcare workers play an indispensable role in society, often working under challenging conditions to provide care and save lives. Ensuring their safety is paramount. We urge the judiciary to mandate comprehensive security protocols for protection at RG Kar Medical College and other similar institutions. They should be protected from any kind of intimidation or violence. Issue guidelines to plan, prevent, protect, and address the consequences of sexual violence, harassment, and gender discrimination against healthcare workers. Direct the deployment of central forces to protect RG Kar Medical College and its staff while the case is pending.” FORDA also demanded the formulation of guidelines to increase security measures in medical colleges and hospitals across the country to prevent such incidents in the future.
The hearing will be held in Supreme Court tomorrow
Let us tell you that the Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital. This case will be heard on Tuesday. According to the August 20 cause list uploaded on the Supreme Court website, a bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud will hear this case on Tuesday. This hearing may take place at 10:30 am.