In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court has mandated the deployment of CISF at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital, following the brutal rape and murder of a young doctor. The apex court led by CJI Chandrachud, in a scathing statement, criticised the West Bengal government and Kolkata police for their failure to ensure safety, resulting in doctors fleeing due to fear. Dhananjay Mahapatra of The Times of India reported that the court’s sharp rebuke highlighted the inaction and negligence of local authorities.
In addition to the CISF deployment, the Supreme Court has also established a 10-member task force dedicated to framing protocols for the safety of medical professionals across the country. According to The Hindu’s Krishnadas Rajagopal, the task force will be led by a former Supreme Court judge and will include eminent members from various sectors, including healthcare and law enforcement. This task force aims to create a robust framework that will protect doctors from violence and ensure that hospitals are safe spaces for both patients and staff.
The court’s decision comes amid growing concerns about the safety of healthcare workers, particularly after the incident at RG Kar Hospital. The Supreme Court emphasised the urgency of implementing strict safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future. As reported by Ananthakrishnan G and Utkarsh Anand for The Indian Express and Hindustan Times respectively, the court also instructed the West Bengal government to file an FIR and provide a detailed report on the case, underscoring the need for accountability and swift action.
This decisive move by the Supreme Court which took up the case suo moto just two days ago sends a powerful message about the importance of protecting those who are at the frontline of saving lives. As the task force begins its work, the hope is that it will lead to meaningful changes in how safety is ensured in medical institutions across the country.
Other top stories of the day include:
- The Supreme Court denied an elderly couple’s plea for euthanasia for their comatose son, stressing the sanctity of life. The Times of India | The Hindu
- The Indian government cancelled its lateral entry hiring drive due to social justice concerns, after receiving pushback on applying reservation quotas. The Hindu | The Times of India
- Bangladesh’s BNP has asked India to extradite PM Sheikh Hasina amid rising political tensions, as new cases against her surface. The Indian Express | The Hindu
- Delhi was on high alert after multiple bomb threats were sent to over 100 hospitals and malls. Fortunately, they were later confirmed as hoaxes. The Hindu | The Times of India
- President Joe Biden symbolically passed the leadership baton to Kamala Harris at the Democratic National Convention, sparking discussions about her potential as the next U.S. president. The Hindu | The Times of India
- The Competition Commission of India has raised concerns about the Disney-Reliance merger, warning that it might hurt competition in the media industry. The Times of India | The Economic Times
- A 17-year-old case involving a doctor who was drugged, raped, and left for dead in a Delhi hospital has resurfaced, bringing renewed attention to the vulnerabilities of healthcare workers. Times of India
- Brookfield is investing ₹50,000 crore in Andhra Pradesh’s green energy sector, which is a significant boost for the state’s renewable energy landscape. Economic Times
- India’s internet infrastructure is about to get a big boost with new subsea cable routes set to widen the country’s data highway and improve internet quality. Economic Times
