Bengal Doctors Vow to Continue Strike Despite Supreme Court Appeal

Kolkata: Doctors in West Bengal will continue their strike against the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata. The West Bengal Junior Doctors Front has opted to maintain their protest, unlike their counterparts at AIIMS Delhi, who ended their strike following a Supreme Court appeal. The Supreme Court had promised that "no harsh measures" would be taken against the protesting doctors. 

However, resident doctors at AIIMS, Delhi, and RML Hospital announced that they were withdrawing their 11-day strike following an appeal from the Supreme Court. The apex court earlier in the day asked the protesting doctors to resume work and assured them that no adverse action would be taken after they rejoined.

"We are resuming duties following the Supreme Court's appeal and assurances and intervention in the RG Kar incident and the safety of doctors. We commend the court's action and call for adherence to its directives. Patient care remains our top priority," the Resident Doctors' Association, AIIMS, New Delhi, said in a post on X.

The resident doctors' association of RML Hospital said in a statement that "given the Supreme Court's intervention and the progress made in addressing their demands", they would resume their duties from 8 am on Friday.

The strike is being suspended in response to the Supreme Court taking suo motu cognisance of the case and the transfer of the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), it said.

Sandip Ghosh, other doctors to undergo lie detector test 

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been granted permission to conduct the polygraph test of Sandip Gosh, former principal of RG Kar Hospital and four other doctors in the trainee doctor's rape and murder case. The central probing agency had earlier approached court for permission to conduct the  polygraph test.

Trainee Doctor's rape-murder triggers nationwide outrage 

The assault and murder of the junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital sparked nationwide protests. On August 12, resident doctors' associations started a nationwide protest, halting outpatient department (OPD) services. Emergency services continued as usual.

The junior doctor's body was found on August 9 with severe injury marks inside the seminar hall of the state-run hospital's chest department. A civic volunteer was arrested by the Kolkata Police in connection with the case the following day. On August 13, the Calcutta High Court ordered the transfer of the probe from the Kolkata Police to the CBI, which started its investigation on August 14.