India’s top court, hearing the fatal sexual assault case involving a trainee doctor in Kolkata, announced on Tuesday the formation of a national task force to ensure the safety of healthcare workers.
The decision comes days after the rape and murder of a trainee doctor that caused outrage and nationwide protests.
A 10-member body of senior doctors will draft guidelines to protect medical professionals and other healthcare workers across the country, Chief Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud said, after taking up the case suo motu. The three-judge bench led by Judge Chandrachud criticised the government's callous attitude, saying it could not “wait for another rape” to occur.
The court also asked the federal Central Bureau of Investigation to submit a report on Thursday on the status of its investigation.
The 31-year-old trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, in West Bengal state, was sexually assaulted and killed on August 9. Her body was discovered in the government-run hospital with 16 external and nine internal injury marks, including those to her head and neck that indicated strangulation, according to the postmortem report.
Doctors nationwide have held protests and refused to see non-emergency patients, demanding a safer workplace and a swift criminal probe. A civic volunteer was arrested by the police, but the Calcutta High Court transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation after her colleagues and family said more than one person was involved in the assault.
“Why we decided to take suo motu though the Calcutta High Court was hearing it is because this is not just a case of a horrific murder in Kolkata hospital, but this is about the systemic issue about the safety of doctors across India,” Judge Chandrachud said.
“Medical professions have become vulnerable to violence,” he remarked. “Due to ingrained patriarchal biases, women doctors are targeted more. As more and more women join the workforce, the nation cannot wait for another rape for things to change on the ground.”
Demonstrators have named the female doctor as Abhaya, which means “fearless”. Under Indian law, the name of a victim of sexual assault cannot be publicly disclosed.
Justice Chandrachud also asked all the states to collect data on the number of security personnel posted at each hospital and the total number of resting rooms. He asked for the report to be submitted in a month.
The government in 2022 set up measures to protect doctors, including criminalising violence against healthcare professionals and introducing penalties for offenders.
Violence against doctors is widespread in the country. A survey by the Indian Medical Association found that 75 per cent of doctors had faced some form of violence.
Justice Chandrachud said protecting the safety of doctors and female doctors was a matter of “national interest”.
“We are deeply concerned about the virtual absence for safe conditions for doctors … There are legislations in the State to protect medical professionals, but they do not address the systemic issues … We need to evolve a national consensus for a standard national protocol for safe work conditions,” he said.
“The task force shall look into the safety, well-being of medical professionals and other cognate matters highlighted.”
The bench also looked into the acts of vandalism by a mob that attacked the hospital as protesters, mostly women, gathered for a midnight march on August 15.
“The West Bengal government was expected to maintain law and order and protect the crime scene,” the bench said, adding it was “unable to comprehend why the state could not do so.”
The strike by junior doctors since the incident was reported has led to outpatient departments being closed and disruption to elective services.
Justice Chandrachud urged the protesting doctors to resume work.
“The abstention from work of doctors affects those segments of the society who need medical care the most from accessing day to day services,” he said.
Vidaamuyarchi
Director: Magizh Thirumeni
Stars: Ajith Kumar, Arjun Sarja, Trisha Krishnan, Regina Cassandra
Rating: 4/5
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SPECS
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The biog
Profession: Senior sports presenter and producer
Marital status: Single
Favourite book: Al Nabi by Jibran Khalil Jibran
Favourite food: Italian and Lebanese food
Favourite football player: Cristiano Ronaldo
Languages: Arabic, French, English, Portuguese and some Spanish
Website: www.liliane-tannoury.com
Europe wide
Some of French groups are threatening Friday to continue their journey to Brussels, the capital of Belgium and the European Union, and to meet up with drivers from other countries on Monday.
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How to report a beggar
Abu Dhabi – Call 999 or 8002626 (Aman Service)
Dubai – Call 800243
Sharjah – Call 065632222
Ras Al Khaimah - Call 072053372
Ajman – Call 067401616
Umm Al Quwain – Call 999
Fujairah - Call 092051100 or 092224411
FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT)
Tuesday
Mairobr v Liverpool
Spartak Moscow v Sevilla
Feyenoord v Shakhtar Donetsk
Manchester City v Napoli
Monaco v Besiktas
RB Leipzig v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Borussia Dortmund
Real Madrid v Tottenham Hotspur
Wednesday
Benfica v Manchester United
CSKA Moscow v Basel
Bayern Munich v Celtic
Anderlecht v Paris Saint-Germain
Qarabag v Atletico Madrid
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Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
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THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
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Torque: 147Nm
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West Ham 2-3 Tottenham
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Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride
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'Nope'
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3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
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The biog
Age: 32
Qualifications: Diploma in engineering from TSI Technical Institute, bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dubai’s Al Ghurair University, master’s degree in human resources from Abu Dhabi University, currently third years PHD in strategy of human resources.
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MATCH INFO
Burnley 1 (Brady 89')
Manchester City 4 (Jesus 24', 50', Rodri 68', Mahrez 87')
