The Supreme Court, on Tuesday, ordered the establishment of a national task force to ensure the safety and security of doctors across the country in response to nationwide protests following the rape and murder of a medical professional in Kolkata.

The directive came after a bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud took suo motu cognisance of the heinous crime involving a postgraduate medical student from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The court expressed grave concern, stating that the inability to provide safe working conditions for women deprives them of equality in the workplace.

“We are establishing a national task force consisting of doctors from across India to develop strategies ensuring the safety and security of doctors within hospitals,” said CJI Chandrachud. 

“We appeal to all doctors to trust us. We are here to protect you,” he said.

The Supreme Court further noted several critical issues faced by doctors, particularly those working late-night shifts. These include the lack of adequate rest areas, poor hygiene conditions, challenges in managing unruly individuals, insufficient transport facilities post-shift, and malfunctioning security systems such as closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
Additionally, the court raised concerns about inadequate security screenings and the unrestricted access granted to patient families within hospital premises.

The task force, which aims to address these widespread concerns and restore confidence among medical professionals, will include the following members:

·         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

·         Prof Pallavi Sapre

·         Dr Padma Srivastava

The suo motu case, titled “In Re: Alleged rape and murder incident of a trainee doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata and related issue,” holds considerable significance as the Calcutta High Court has already intervened, transferring the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The incident has sparked a nationwide outcry, with doctors entering the second week of a strike, causing significant disruptions for patients. The striking doctors are demanding swift justice, with the CBI apprehending the perpetrators and ensuring the harshest penalties. They also seek assurance from the government to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies.

The Supreme Court bench, also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, noted the severity of the incident, which has galvanised protests across the nation. The young doctor’s body, bearing severe injury marks, was discovered on August 9 in a seminar hall within the state-run hospital’s chest department.