Junior doctors in Kolkata have intensified their protest, defying the Supreme Court‘s directive to return to work by 5 PM on Tuesday. The doctors are demanding justice for a fellow postgraduate trainee who was the victim of a brutal rape and murder at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Despite the Supreme Court’s order, the agitating doctors remain firm in their decision to continue the strike until their demands are met.
Doctors Stage Novel Protest with Brooms and Brain Models
In a symbolic protest, junior doctors carried brooms and brain models while demonstrating outside the West Bengal health department headquarters in Salt Lake’s Sector 5. Their message was clear: the health authorities need to “clean up” the state’s health sector and start “thinking” about the grievances of medical professionals.
Earlier, they had carried a model spine to the Kolkata Police Headquarters at Lalbazar, claiming that the police lacked the “spinal cord” to take proper action in the case. On Tuesday, they aimed their protest at the Health Department, suggesting that officials lacked the “brain” to address the crisis effectively.
Defying the Supreme Court Directive
On Monday, the Supreme Court directed the protesting doctors to return to work by 5 PM on Tuesday, with a guarantee that no punitive actions, such as transfers, would be taken against them. However, the junior doctors have refused to comply, insisting that their demands— including the removal of key officials like the Kolkata Police Commissioner, Health Secretary, Director of Health Services, and Director of Medical Education— be met.
“We are continuing with our cease work as our demands have not been fulfilled. The state government must act on the resignations we have called for by 5 PM. We remain open to dialogue, but our protest will not end without justice for the victim,” one of the protesting doctors said.
Demanding Accountability and Justice
The junior doctors’ agitation began on August 9, after the body of a female postgraduate trainee was discovered in the seminar room of RG Kar Medical College. The doctors are calling for justice and have expressed dissatisfaction with the handling of the case by the police and health authorities.
The protestors have laid out a charter of five demands, including the resignation of several top officials, and are prepared to escalate their agitation if these are not met. They have threatened to stage a sit-in protest at Swasthya Bhawan if the government fails to respond by the 5 PM deadline.
Police Presence and Barricades
A heavy police presence was seen at the entrance of Swasthya Bhawan, where barricades were set up to prevent the protestors from entering the premises. The doctors, however, maintain that their march is peaceful and that they are willing to negotiate with the state government to resolve the situation.
“We are waiting for the government to clean up the health sector. If they fail to meet our demands, we will begin a sit-in protest. However, we are still open to discussions and hope the state government will act soon,” a protestor added.