Kathmandu, Aug 21: The Supreme Court of India made strong remarks on Tuesday while hearing the case of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. The court also raised questions regarding the West Bengal government’s handling of the situation.

Led by the Chief Justice of India, the Supreme Court took suo moto cognizance of the case. The bench, which included Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Mishra, expressed concerns about the lack of security for doctors and healthcare workers across the country and subsequently formed a national task force.

This task force has been assigned the responsibility of developing a national protocol to ensure the safety of health workers. The next hearing for the case is scheduled for August 22, with the court also directing the CBI to submit a status report on the investigation into both the rape-murder case and the mob attack on the hospital.

The court made various comments on workplace safety, law and order, and administrative negligence. Chief Justice Chandrachud emphasized that the case highlights broader issues related to the safety of doctors nationwide. He stressed the need for a national protocol to ensure safe working conditions, particularly for women.

The Supreme Court underscored the importance of creating a secure environment for healthcare providers and stated that the safety of those who serve others should not be compromised. The court noted that while some states have enacted laws to combat violence against doctors, these laws have not adequately addressed institutional safety weaknesses.