The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday ordered the formation of a National Task Force to enhance the safety and security of doctors across the country. The move follows widespread protests triggered by the rape and murder of a postgraduate medic at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
A bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud took suo motu cognisance of the case, titled “In Re: Alleged rape and murder incident of a trainee doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata and related issue.” The SC bench expressed deep concern over the unsafe working conditions for female doctors, stating that denying them a secure environment equates to denying them equality.
“If women are not able to go to work and working conditions are not safe, we are denying them equality,” said Chief Justice Chandrachud during the hearing. He emphasized the urgent need for a national consensus on ensuring the safety of medical professionals and urged doctors across the country to trust the court’s commitment to their protection.
The National Task Force, composed of esteemed medical professionals, is tasked with developing strategies to improve security in hospitals. The task force members include Admiral Aarti Sarin, Director General of Medical Services, Navy; Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy; Dr. M. Srinivas, Director of AIIMS Delhi; Dr. Pratima Murthy from NIMHANS Bangalore; Dr. Goverdhan Dutt Puri from AIIMS Jodhpur; Dr. Somikra Rawat of Gangaram Hospital Delhi; Prof. Anita Saxena, Vice Chancellor; Pallavi Saple from JJ Group of Hospitals; and Padma Srivastava, Chairperson of Neurology at Paras Hospital Gurgaon.
The Supreme Court bench, which also includes Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, highlighted several critical issues faced by doctors working late-night shifts, including inadequate rest areas, poor hygiene conditions, lack of transportation after long shifts, malfunctioning CCTVs, and insufficient security screenings. The unrestricted access for patient families in hospitals was also flagged as a significant concern.
The formation of the task force comes in response to escalating protests by doctors nationwide, who are demanding justice for the slain medic and assurances of improved safety measures in hospitals. The doctors’ strike, now in its second week, has severely impacted patient care across the country.
The apex court’s intervention follows the Calcutta High Court’s decision to transfer the investigation of the case from the Kolkata Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The high court’s order came after petitions were filed seeking a more thorough and impartial probe into the incident. The CBI began its investigation on August 14.
The protests erupted after the body of the young medic, bearing severe injury marks, was discovered in a seminar hall at the hospital’s chest department on August 9. A civic volunteer was arrested in connection with the case the following day. The striking doctors have demanded that the CBI swiftly apprehend the culprits and that the court impose the harshest punishment possible.
The Supreme Court’s decision to establish the National Task Force aims to restore confidence among medical professionals and ensure that hospitals across the country become safer environments for those who dedicate their lives to saving others.
