Well-being of patients cannot be disrupted- Cal HC on use of microphone by protestesting medicos at R.G. Medical Hispital

The Calcutta High Court bench of Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj criticized the use of microphones outside of R.G. Kar Medical Hospital. The Court was hearing matter pertaining to the ongoing protest by interns and medical students.

Advocate General S N Mookherjee , counsel for the state, submitted that hospital services were being disrupted due to protests. Miking was being done by protestors and abusive remarks were also being passed against the principal.

According to Times of India, the Bench during the hearing, pointed out that the way the agitation of the protestors using microphones cannot disrupt the well-being of the patients in the hospital . The agitators would have to take responsibility if any service was disrupted. The Court further noted that this behaviour is in direct violation of its earlier order dated 25th October, 2021, wherein it stated:

"We hope and trust that the respondent no. 8 will not take any measure so as to disrupt the medical facilities at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital and maintain the sanctity of the silent zone at the Hospital and the Medical College",

Around 350 resident doctors and students have been protesting over a range of demands- reinstatement of the RGKMC union, a transparent hostel council and more hostel beds for female resident doctors. They have also demanded the resignation of the college's principal Sandeep Ghosh.

Sri Nand Lal Tewari v. State of West Bengal