On Thursday, the Supreme Court of India described the working environments faced by resident doctors nationwide as ‘inhuman.’ The apex court urged the newly formed 10-member National Task Force (NTF) to consider measures to control doctors’ working hours.
Speaking for himself and other Supreme Court judges, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud sounded deep concern about information that some resident doctors work for 36 hours. During a suo motu hearing of a tragic incident involving the rape and murder of a postgraduate medic in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, he noted that the committee appointed should look into the variation of the on-duty hours of all doctors, saying that ‘36 or 48-hour shifts are just inhuman’.
The bench, which comprised Justices J. B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, also examined the lapses and prolongations of the Kolkata Police investigation. Chief Justice emphasized the police’s very ‘slow’ response, saying that even though the incident was reported at General Diary, the victim was dead, and the entry was made at 10:10 AM, the scene was sealed only at 11:30 PM.
This heinous crime was committed on August 9 when the racing monster savagely raped and killed the junior doctor. The mutilated body was found with deep injuries on the floor of a seminar hall. Suspended for the match following an August 13 order of the Calcutta High Court, the case has now been transferred to the CBI.
In addition to speaking regarding shift regulations, the Supreme Court has also called on the National Task Force to dialogue with all key stakeholders to develop a broad framework that will enhance security for doctors and other health care workers.
