SC to hear RG Kar case today as junior doctors' hunger strike enters day 11

Kolkata: The indefinite hunger strike by junior doctors in West Bengal reached its 11th day on Tuesday, as a meeting with state government officials failed to resolve ongoing issues. The strike was triggered by the recent rape and murder of the junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

A major hearing regarding the rape and murder case is set to take place before a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud. The ongoing hunger strike by junior doctors is expected to be addressed during this session. In the last hearing in September, the Supreme Court noted that the Central Bureau of Investigation's findings regarding the case were "disturbing."

The day’s proceedings will also spotlight two concurrent events in central Kolkata. One is the annual Durga idol immersion carnival organized by the West Bengal government, while the other is a protest dubbed the “Droh-Carnival,” organized by medical professionals advocating for justice in the rape and murder case. Kolkata Police have denied permission for the “Droh-Carnival.” However, the medical representatives have stated they will proceed with their planned demonstration despite this denial. In response, the city police have issued prohibitory orders for the area along the route where the protest is scheduled to occur.

Meanwhile, on Monday, two more doctors participating in the hunger strike in the Esplanade area fell ill, highlighting the rising tension among medical professionals. A crucial meeting held at Swasthya Bhavan between representatives from 12 doctors' associations and Chief Secretary Manoj Pant concluded without an agreement.

The hunger strike began on October 5, following nearly 50 days of work stoppages that began after the tragic incident on August 9. Currently, seven junior doctors are still on hunger strike, with some requiring immediate medical care.

Pulastha Acharya, a junior doctor from NRS Medical College and Hospital, was admitted to the Critical Care Unit (CCU) on Sunday night due to severe stomach pain. Another doctor, Tanaya Panja from Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, lost consciousness and was urgently transferred to the CCU for treatment.

The latest participant in the hunger strike is a junior doctor from the ENT department of North Bengal Medical College and Hospital, who began fasting on Monday afternoon.

After the unsuccessful meeting, Chief Secretary Pant informed reporters that the doctors are seeking a clear timeline for their demands, but the government cannot provide such a deadline. He noted that seven out of ten demands have already been addressed, while the remaining three require further review. "For the remaining three demands, they were requesting specific timelines. These are administrative decisions that the state needs to consider, so we cannot provide a deadline at this point," Pant said.

Pant invited the Joint Platform of Doctors (JPD) for more discussions at the state health department and urged them to cancel their planned "Droher Carnival" demonstration on October 15, which coincides with the state's annual Durga Puja celebrations.

The junior doctors’ primary demands include justice for the victim from RG Kar Hospital, the immediate removal of Health Secretary N. S. Nigam, and enhanced workplace security. They are also calling for a centralised hospital referral system, a bed vacancy monitoring system, and better infrastructure, such as on-call rooms, CCTV, and proper washrooms.

On Monday evening, junior doctors organized a rally to Raj Bhawan and submitted a memorandum to the governor's secretary, demanding a swift and transparent investigation by the CBI into the alleged rape and murder at RG Kar Hospital.

Agency