The Supreme Court issued a directive to the protesting junior doctors in Bengal on Monday to return to work by 5 pm September 10 failing which the state government would be free to take disciplinary action.

Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud said that while protests are a right, they cannot come at the expense of public duty.

The bench, which included Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra, made it clear that no disciplinary actions would be taken if the junior doctors resume their duties by the stipulated date.

“If doctors do not resume to work then we cannot stop the state government from taking disciplinary action. We want to ensure that doctors resume work. They are in a system to render service. We will provide facilities but they have to reciprocate,” the CJI said in the Supreme Court hearing.

The Telegraph Online spoke with a few protesting doctors, who said they would obey the apex court but who also expressed dissatisfaction that justice still eludes them even a month after the rape and murder of their colleague at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

PTI

“Our protest was mainly via the cease-work so that our voices are heard and demands for safety are met,” Dr Anubhab Saha, an intern at RG Kar, told The Telegraph Online. “Even after all this, if this is the decision that comes, then it is extremely disheartening. As there is an order; I have to get back to work as it is by the Supreme Court. But what about justice? Our protests will continue pan India, we will remove the cease-work per the Supreme Court order.”

Dr. Sumit Kumar, a first-year postgraduate trainee at the Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine, echoed similar sentiments.

“If the CJI has asked us to go back to work I would go back but I don’t think we are getting justice because no culprits till now have been identified,” Kumar said. “I feel many are hiding and many of the names are being hidden. Justice delayed is justice denied. There is no higher authority in the country above CJI, so I will obey his directives but I am not happy with the decision. I feel helpless.”

Another RG Kar intern, Dr Anubhav Mandal, said: “This entire movement and protest was to seek justice for our colleague and the horrific incident that has happened in our college. We cannot speak above the Supreme Court and go against it. However, I wish the amount of effort the Supreme Court has given to get us back to work was given to get justice on the matter as well. How can I be happy and return to work when our issues are not solved? This is just a temporary solution; but what is happening on a permanent basis?”

Junior doctors at Calcutta National Medical College preparing posters for protest Nancy Jaiswal

Earlier on Monday, senior advocate Kapil Sibal representing the state government, said that healthcare delivery had been severely impacted by the junior doctors’ strike.

“Twenty-three people have died because they do not work, the healthcare system can collapse, 6 lakh individuals denied treatments, resident doctors not attending OPDs. No angiography for over 1,500 patients…. Now it must be noted that proceedings would be initiated against them if they do not report to work.” Sibal told the CJI-led bench on Monday.

In a press meet right after the Supreme Court hearing, chief minister Mamata Banerjee appealed to the protesting doctors as well as the people of Bengal: “One month over, come back to festivities.”

The chief minister also said she was ready to talk to the protesting doctors if they want.