Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: SC takes note of doctors' vulnerability, suggests safeguards

At a suo motu hearing of the Kolkata doctor rape and murder case held on August 20, the Supreme Court took strong note of the doctor community's increasing vulnerability to violence.

The RG Kar Hospital case, where a young lady doctor was allegedly raped and murdered, is not merely a murder case but one that raises systemic issues on safety of doctors, the court remarked.

Medical professionals have become vulnerable to violence, the top court noted, adding that women are particularly at risk of abuses. Women face various sexual abuses, CJI Chandrachud observed.


At the hearing, the Supreme Court suggested several measures to safeguard doctors.

The court said it would like the task force to consider sweeping reforms. Some of the suggested measures include, among others:

• Security in medical establishments
• Separate resting rooms for female staff
• Adequate lighting across the campus
• CCTV coverage
• Restricted entry to certain facilities used by medical staff
• Creation of employee panels to conduct quarterly safety audits.

The court said that resident doctors in medical colleges (public and private) and doctors in govt hospitals should be formally declared as 'public servants'. A police outpost should be mandatorily set up within the premises of municipal hospitals, it added.

The safety of women is a matter of national significant, the court remarked, adding that the nation cannot await another rape for it to take some steps.

There are legislations in state to protect medical professionals but these do not address systemic issues, the court noted.

Institutional safety is missing for medical professionals, the court observed. There is no resting step for doctors on late night duty, it said. Besides, basic hygiene conditions are lacking and there are not even proper rest rooms for doctors and interns, it added.

The CJI said the court was unable to comprehend how the state was not able to handle vandalism at the hospital. Lack of institutional safety norms is a matter of serious concern, the court noted.

The court announced that a national task force consisting of doctors from different parts of the country will be set up. It will be tasked with making recommendations in regard to modalities to be followed across India for ensuring safety at the workplace. The court said it would ask the task force to submit a report within three weeks of being set up.

The NTF will be set up under the authority of the bench.

Among other things, the court told CBI, which is investigating the case, to submit a status report by Thursday, and asked the West Bengal govt to file a report by August 23 on the vandalism that occurred at the hospital.

Please trust us, resume work, the top court said to doctors protesting over the horrific rape-murder.