Kolkata rape case: Junior doctors seek 2nd meeting with Mamata
After the West Bengal government appointed a new police commissioner for Kolkata and removed two senior health department officials, the protesting junior doctors on Wednesday called their movement a "partial victory." The doctors said they would continue their cease-work strike until their demands are met in a concrete way by the state government. They also sought another meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to discuss the issue further.
What was decided at doctors' general body meeting
The announcements came after a general body meeting held to determine the next steps after CM Banerjee claimed her government had accepted "99%" of the junior doctors' demands. She urged them to return to work, citing the strain on the state's medical system. During the meeting, it was decided to send another email to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, requesting a further meeting with the chief minister to address their remaining demands.
What are the remaining demands of doctors
Along with the removal of former Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, the doctors demanded the removal of state health secretary NS Nigam, claiming the chief minister had assured them of Nigam's dismissal on Monday. The doctors expressed a desire to discuss the measures announced for improving the safety and security of medical staff in hospitals. They also sought details on how the state plans to utilize the promised ₹100 crore for enhancing doctors' safety in government-run hospitals.
Doctors seek representation in policy-making bodies
The meeting called for the immediate notification of the chief secretary-led task force for medical colleges, which was promised during Monday's discussions at Banerjee's residence. Additionally, they demanded the resumption of student body elections and emphasized the need for adequate representation of junior doctors in the top policy-making bodies of these institutions to ensure their voices are heard in decision-making processes.
Case's hearing in SC
Amid ongoing protests by junior doctors in Kolkata, the Supreme Court resumed its hearing on Tuesday in the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate doctor at RG Kar Medical College. Previously, on September 9, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud urged doctors to resume work by 5 pm the next day, assuring no adverse action from the state. However, the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front refused the court's directive, vowing to continue their strike until their demands are fulfilled.
