Doctors Rape and Murder: Junior Doctors Strike Continues Despite SC Order

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court directed the striking doctors to resume work by 5 pm on Tuesday to avoid adverse action from the state government | (Photo: Reuters)

Defiant young doctors in West Bengal on Monday night said they would continue their work demanding justice for the RG Kar Hospital doctor who was raped and murdered, despite the Supreme Court’s order to resume work at 5 pm on Tuesday.

The striking doctors demanded the resignation of the deputy health secretary and the director of health education (DHE) and said they would also hold a rally at ‘Swasthya Bhavan’, the headquarters of the health ministry in Salt Lake on Tuesday afternoon.

“Our demands are not being met and the victim is not getting justice. We will continue our agitation and stop work. We want the Health Minister and DHE to resign. We will hold a rally outside Swasthya Bhavan tomorrow afternoon,” one of the protesting doctors told PTI after their governing body’s meeting here.

The body of the postgraduate intern was found with injuries in a seminar room of the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. She was allegedly raped and murdered while on duty. The incident has led to nationwide outrage and protests.

For almost a month now, young doctors in training have been observing the shutdown of work in state hospitals.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court had directed the striking doctors to resume work by 5 pm on Tuesday to avoid any adverse action by the state government.

The court gave this direction after the West Bengal government assured that no action, including punitive transfers, would be taken against the protesting doctors if they resumed work.

First publication: Sep 10, 2024 | 06:54 AM IST