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How can you say women can't work at night? SC raps Mamata govt over night duty rule in the wake of RG Kar case

by TRANS WORLD FEATURES | @twfindia 17 Sep 2024, 05:36 am

New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court on Tuesday rapped the Mamata Banerjee government over its decision to not allot night shifts to women doctors for safety issues in the wake of the RG Kar incident where a trainee doctor was raped and murdered in the state-run hospital last month.

A top court bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said as quoted by Live Law, "How can you say women cannot work at night? Why limit the women doctors? They don't want a concession...women are ready to work at exactly the same time shift."

In a directive, the CJI told Sibal that it is the responsibility of the state government to provide security and not dictate women's working hours.

"Mr.Sibal, you have to look at it. The answer to it is that you must give security. West Bengal should correct the notification, your duty is to provide security, you cannot say that women (doctors) cannot work at night! pilots, the army etc all work at night," the CJI said.

Adding more fuel to the massive public anger over the rape-murder case, the Mamata Banerjee government, which was subjected to criticism over its handling of the crime, issued a new directive suggesting the hospitals to avoid allotting night duties to women to ensure safety of female doctors.

Speaking in the state assembly, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee faced the Opposition's ire and replied, "It's our prerogative."

Mamata Banerjee gives in to junior doctors' demands

After days of high drama, the long-awaited meeting between protesting junior doctors and Mamata Banerjee finally took place at the latter's Kalighat residence, at the end of which the CM announced that most of the demands of the protesters have been accepted and in accordance with their wish city police commissioner Vineet Goyal will be removed on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters outside her Kalighat residence, Banerjee said: "Forty-two representatives of junior doctors have signed the minutes of the meeting. Both parties are happy that we could hold the discussion addressing their concerns in detail."

"Of their 5 demands, the first was justice, which has now been entrusted with the CBI," she said.

"Since they are unhappy with the police, we have agreed to remove Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal. He will be entrusted with the role of his choice as he himself wants to recuse himself from this post. He will step down at 4 PM on Tuesday and the new CP will be announced," Banerjee said.

"The DC North will be removed as well," she said, noting that this was one of their demands as well.

Banerjee also announced the removal of two health officials- Director of Health Services (DHS) and Director of Medical Service (DMS).

"Besides this, we will take measures to enhance the safety and security of the hospitals," the CM announced.

"We accepted three demands and requested them to join the work so that commoners do not suffer amid a spike in dengue cases in Kolkata. I urge them to join work and extend their service to those in need," she said.

The rape and murder of the doctor which has triggered a tsunami of protests in Bengal and across the country. Protests are also organised across the world by the Bengali diaspora.