On Monday, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud made the statement that demonstrations cannot be carried out at the expense of duties in reference to the physicians’ demonstration following the rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
In a suo moto case, the Supreme Court ruled that the West Bengal government could still discipline the physicians in protest if they didn’t go back to their jobs. According to CJI Chandrachud, the doctors won’t face any repercussions if they report back to work by tomorrow at 5 p.m. He quoted, ““We want to ensure that doctors resume work and we will give them safety, security… but they have to join work. When we said that no adverse action shall be taken against the doctors…Mr (Kapil) Sibal states that no action, including punitive transfers, should be there. If the doctors report for duty on or before 5 pm tomorrow then no adverse disciplinary action shall be taken against them. All complaints on safety and security shall be promptly attended to. However, if there is continuous abstaining from work then disciplinary action can be taken against them and they cannot be oblivious to the general concerns of the community whom they are intended to serve.”
He also adds, “District collectors and police chiefs shall take a look into the situation and ensure necessary conditions are created for ensuring safety and security of doctors of government medical colleges and hospitals, which include the creation of restrooms for male and female doctors, installation of CCTVs.”