SC raps West Bengal govt, questions delay in filing of FIR
North News
New Delhi, August 20
In a major development in the Kolkata rape and murder case, the Supreme Court on Tuesday set up a national task force (NTF) to examine the issues concerning the safety and dignity of doctors and medical professionals and to address gender-based violence and other issues concerning well being and safety faced by doctors and other medical professionals at the workplace, the New Delhi based news outlet the Bench and Bar reported. A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra passed the order in a suo motu case registered by it in the wake or the rape and murder of a 31-year-old resident doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the news outlet said.
The Supreme Court asked the NTF to submit an interim report to it in three weeks and the final report in two months.
The Supreme Court also came down heavily on the West Bengal government over delay in filing FIR in the horrific rape and murder case of a doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
“Since this court is seized of the matter regarding the safety of all medical professionals, we request doctors protesting all across the country to resume work as it affects patients to avail health-related services. Doctors and medical professionals are receiving consideration by the highest court of the country,” the CJI said according to media reports.
Noting that the Prevention of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) (POSH) Act, 2013 applied to medical establishments, the top court said the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) had to be constituted in all hospitals. “We need to evolve a national consensus for a standard national protocol for safe conditions of work. Ultimately, what is equality under the Constitution if women cannot be safe in their workplace,” the CJI said, adding, “Protecting women doctors is a matter of national interest and the principle of equality does not demand anything less.” The news outlet The Tribune reported.
The Bar and Bench also reported that the Court also ordered all states and Union Territories through their secretaries in health departments and the Union government through secretary in the Ministry of Health to collate information from all hospitals run by the States and the Central government on following aspects include how many security professionals are employed at each hospital, whether there is baggage screening at entry, number of resting rooms, facilities provided in such rooms, whether all areas in hospital can be accessed by CCTV, training for hanging grief of patients, If there are police outposts outside the hospital and if Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) as per Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013 POSH is in place.
