On Monday, a Supreme Court bench headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud ruled that West Bengal doctors protesting against the rape and murder in R.G. Kar is due to resume duties at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, failing which the state government will be authorized to initiate disciplinary action against them.
The court, also made up of judges J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, assured that no disciplinary action will be taken if doctors report to work at 5 p.m. or before. on Tuesday.
The new demands put forward by the protesting representatives of the medical fraternity include the suspension of the Secretary of Health, Director of Health Services and Director of Medical Education.
The junior doctors will take out a march to Swastha Bhavan, the health department headquarters in Salt Lake, on Tuesday afternoon in support of their demands.
Earlier, echoing the apex court's observation, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appealed to junior doctors to return to duty.
However, taken aback by the SC's deadline and the Chief Minister's appeal, the junior doctors have announced their stand to continue protesting in the matter.
The protesting doctors have also pointed out that they are simply "trainee doctors", and their absence from the service shows how pathetic the situation is in the health service, where trained doctors and allied medical staff are lacking.
The protesting doctors also presented some statistics to support their claims.
According to them, of the 245 state hospitals in West Bengal, only 26 are medical colleges and hospitals.
While the total number of junior doctors in West Bengal is around 7,500, the total number of registered doctors in the state is around 93,000.
In such a situation, when only the young doctors attached to the state's medical colleges and hospitals have stopped working, how could the entire health system of the state collapse, they asked.
The court, also made up of judges J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, assured that no disciplinary action will be taken if doctors report to work at 5 p.m. or before. on Tuesday.
The new demands put forward by the protesting representatives of the medical fraternity include the suspension of the Secretary of Health, Director of Health Services and Director of Medical Education.
The junior doctors will take out a march to Swastha Bhavan, the health department headquarters in Salt Lake, on Tuesday afternoon in support of their demands.
Earlier, echoing the apex court's observation, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appealed to junior doctors to return to duty.
However, taken aback by the SC's deadline and the Chief Minister's appeal, the junior doctors have announced their stand to continue protesting in the matter.
The protesting doctors have also pointed out that they are simply "trainee doctors", and their absence from the service shows how pathetic the situation is in the health service, where trained doctors and allied medical staff are lacking.
The protesting doctors also presented some statistics to support their claims.
According to them, of the 245 state hospitals in West Bengal, only 26 are medical colleges and hospitals.
While the total number of junior doctors in West Bengal is around 7,500, the total number of registered doctors in the state is around 93,000.
In such a situation, when only the young doctors attached to the state's medical colleges and hospitals have stopped working, how could the entire health system of the state collapse, they asked.
