RG Kar rape and murder: Judges and doctors cannot go on strike, says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Thursday appealed for doctors protesting against the August 9 rape and murder of a resident doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata to resume work so that needy patients who may need public health services the most do not suffer. .The Court added that if the doctors resume work, they should not be penalised for previously having remained absent from work due to their participation in protests. "Let there be no coercive action be taken against doctors after they come back to work after the date of today's order. No adverse action against doctor after they resume work for any protest that happened before the date of today's order," the Court said in its order passed today..The Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was hearing the suo motu case registered by the Court concerning the RG Kar rape and murder case, when concerns arose about the large number of doctors who have been participating in strikes. "If doctors have resumed duty, we will prevail upon the authorities not to take any adverse action. But they must first come back to work. Otherwise, the people who need their services the most are deprived of their services. That's the only concern. How can public health infrastructure run if doctors don't resume work? ... Justice and medicine cannot go on strike. Can we go and sit outside the Supreme Court now?" CJI Chandrachud remarked today..Justice and medicine cannot go on strike.Supreme Court.A lawyer had informed the Court today that resident doctors from AIIMS Nagpur who participated in a protest were being penalised."If they are not on duty, the law will have to follow its course. How can we tell the administration to take a course that is not correct?" the CJI initially said.The lawyer urged for a lenient view to be taken and also pointed out that the doctors were still attending to emergency duties."Let them first come back to work, no one will take adverse action against any doctor. If there is any difficulty, then come back to court," the CJI added.The lawyer, in turn, informed that these doctors had already reported back to their duties.A counsel representing doctors from PGI Chandigarh added that doctors were being victimised even if they resumed work."Doctors are being victimised. They rally for one hour in the morning and then they are working.. but they are also (penalised)," she said. "The seasoned directors who helm these institutions will never do something like this," the CJI observed. "Their casual leaves are being deducted," the counsel replied. The Court proceeded to assure that it would issue directions to ensure that doctors who resume work are not penalised..Note: This article has been updated to reflect a part of the order passed today by the Court. .[Read Order]