Delhi Doctors to Protest at Bengal Bhawan for Justice in Trainee’s Rape-Murder

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 16th Oct. Resident doctors from major hospitals across Delhi are set to protest outside the Bengal Bhawan on Wednesday evening, demanding justice for a trainee doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital. The protest, organized by the Joint Delhi Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) Action Committee, will commence at 6 PM.

Participating hospitals include AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, RML Hospital, GTB Hospital, Maulana Azad Medical College, and Lady Hardinge Medical College, among others. This demonstration is part of a broader movement that began on August 12, with a pan-India strike following the tragic incident. The initial strike lasted until August 22 but was temporarily suspended after the Supreme Court assured expedited justice.

However, the investigation has reportedly stalled, with no action taken report (ATR) publicly shared, as highlighted in a recent Supreme Court hearing. The RDA emphasized that the case has highlighted serious concerns regarding the safety of healthcare workers, particularly female doctors.

A representative from the RDA Action Committee stated, “We suspended our strike in good faith, trusting the process, but now we feel betrayed. The lack of communication and delayed action shows an alarming lack of sensitivity toward our safety concerns.”

During a hearing on August 20, the Supreme Court established a National Task Force (NTF) to address these safety issues, with an interim report expected within three weeks and a final report in two months. However, over 50 days have passed without any report, leading to frustration among resident doctors who feel their concerns are being overlooked.

The statement also noted that the West Bengal government has failed to reassure the protesting junior doctors, many of whom are currently on a hunger strike. The RDA Action Committee plans to hold a press conference on Thursday to outline their position, stating that any harm to healthcare workers resulting from their struggle will lead to a withdrawal from both elective and emergency services.

The junior doctors at R G Kar Medical College in Kolkata have been protesting since the alleged incident on August 9, when the trainee doctor was found dead after taking a break in the hospital’s seminar room. Following the incident, junior doctors initiated a “cease work” action, which lasted 42 days before concluding on September 21, after state government assurances were given. However, the hunger strike at Dharmatala in Kolkata resumed on October 5, with protesters claiming that the government failed to meet their demands.

Among their key demands are justice for their colleague, the immediate removal of Health Secretary N S Nigam, and the establishment of task forces to ensure essential provisions such as CCTV, on-call rooms, and washrooms in their workplaces.