NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday reproached the West Bengal government for delay in lodging the FIR in rape and murder of a PG doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital and laxity in preventing attack and vandalisation of the premises.
Observing that the nation can't wait for another rape to change things on the ground, the top court ordered to set up a 10-member National Task Force under its authority with senior doctors across the country, to suggest measures for protection of medical fraternity as it called the August 9 Kolkata doctor's rape and murder case as "horrific" and "horrendous".
Hearing a suo motu matter, a bench of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra also expressed serious concern over the revealing the identity of the 31-year-old victim.
While putting the state government on dock, court directed it not to unleash the might of the State on peaceful protesters.
"The West Bengal government was expected to maintain law and order and protect the crime scene, we fail to comprehend why the state could not do so," the bench said.
Emphasising the need for putting in place safety protocols for protection of doctors, including of women, the bench termed the incident as "horrific and horrendous" which showed "systemic failure of the state machineries".
The court also requested the protesting doctors to come back to work, saying their safety and protection are a matter of the highest national concern.
Also Read: SC takes suo motu cognisance of Kolkata rape-murder of PG student, to hear on Aug 20
The bench directed the National Task Force, consisting of eminent doctors, to submit an interim report within three weeks and a final report within two months on protocol and safety of medical fraternity, including for protection of female staff, residents etc.
The court also directed the CBI to submit a status report on its probe on Thursday.
After hearing Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior advocate Kapil Sibal for the West Bengal government, the bench broadened the issue of safety and security of doctors and healthcare staff across country.
It said that the taskforce should look into safety, wellbeing of medical professional and other matters related to health care issue. The NTF should consider to prepare action plan to prevent gender based violence, prepare national plan to prepare dignified working of interns, resident, non resident doctors.
The NTF would comprise Surgeon Vice Admiral R Sarin, Dr D Nageshwar Reddy, Dr M Shreenivas, Dr Pratima Murty
Dr Goverdhan Dutt Puri, Dr Saumitra Rawat, Prof Anita Saxena, Head Cardiology, AIIMS Delhi, Prof Pallavi Sapre, Dean Grant Medical College Mumbai, Dr Padma Srivastava, Neurology dept, AIIMS, Ex officio members of the national task force:
Cabinet Secretary to govt of india, Home secretary to govt of india, secretary union health ministry, chairperson of national medical commission, president of national board of examiners.
The bench said this court was deeply concerned that there is virtual absence for safe conditions for doctors working in hospitals, women doctors, resident and non resident doctors and the women doctors who are more vulnerable.
"No separate rest and duty room for men and women doctors are available and 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 bench asked.
