RG Kar: I can't give a date, says advocate Indira Jaising in SC on junior doctors' resumption of work
New Delhi/IBNS: Advocate Indira Jaising, who is representing the protesting junior doctors in the RG Kar case in the Supreme Court, told the judiciary the agitators are keen to quit ceasework but they are worried about the safety and security at hospitals.
Advocate Jaising said the call on quitting ceasework will be taken by the junior doctors only after a General Body (GB) meeting.
Advocate Kapil Sibal, the counsel for the State, pleaded before Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud that the junior doctors should resume work.
"Ceasework must stop now," Sibal said.
On when junior doctors will be able to return to work, Jaising said, "I can't give a date."
Refraining from entering into the premise of CBI's probe, Jaising told the CJI that the junior doctors are worried about their safety and security, forcing them to go on with the ceasework.
Jaising told the court that the junior doctors are worried that the culprits are roaming free.
CJI Chandrachud told Jaising that the court can only give direction to the state government when the probe agency finds something concrete.
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.