New Delhi/Kolkata, Aug 18: Amid the mounting outrage over the alleged rape and murder of a medic in Kolkata, the Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the case and will take it up on August 20, even as junior doctors in some states, including West Bengal and Delhi, remained off duty on Sunday disrupting healthcare services.
In Kolkata, Sandip Ghosh, former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, appeared before the CBI on the third consecutive day and was asked to furnish details of the phone calls he made before, and after the incident at the hospital, an officer of the central probe agency said.
Meanwhile, the Kolkata Police on Sunday summoned TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, hours after he demanded that the CBI interrogate Kolkata police commissioner. The police have also issued summonses to former BJP MP Locket Chatterjee and two renowned doctors for allegedly spreading rumours and disclosing the identity of the victim.
The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the incident, amid the nationwide protests.
According to the cause list of August 20 uploaded on the apex court website, a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra is scheduled to hear on Tuesday a matter titled ‘In Re: Alleged rape and murder incident of a trainee doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata and related issue'.
Healthcare services remained affected across West Bengal for the tenth consecutive day as agitating junior doctors at state-run hospitals continued their cease-work demanding justice for the victim.
As the outpatient departments (OPDs) at government hospitals are closed on Sundays, the rush was less even as senior doctors were attending the emergency department to provide treatment to the visiting patients.
“We are not for affecting healthcare services. We can understand the problems faced by the patients but our protest is very relevant in this context when an on-duty doctor was raped and murdered…We will continue with our protest till our sister gets justice and the government arranges total security for us,” an agitating doctor said.
In the national capital, the resident doctors' strike entered its seventh day over the incident.
Both private and government hospitals have joined the protest, fighting for justice for the victim and demanding a security act for doctors.
The Action Committee for the Central Protection Act, representing all resident welfare associations (RDAs) of Delhi, announced after a meeting on Sunday the continuation of the strike, citing unresolved safety concerns for healthcare professionals.
The decision comes in response to what they deem inadequate assurances from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) following the tragic incident at the state-run Kolkata hospital.
Meanwhile, members of the Delhi RDAs have decided to take out a candle march outside Rajiv Chowk Metro Station this evening.
