The state’s director of medical education has written to the heads of all government medical colleges asking them to report the “number of junior doctors” who have resumed duty till Thursday, following the Supreme Court order to the protesting medics to return to work.

“In view of the direction given by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India on 09.09.2024, you are hereby requested to report the number of junior doctors resumed duty as on date as per the attached proforma by 2pm today. Consider this to be extremely urgent,” the director of medical education, Kaustav Nayek, has written to the director/principal of all medical colleges in the state on Thursday.

A copy of the memo has been forwarded “for information and taking necessary action” to the director of health services, OSD and special secretary (Medical Emergency Response Team) in the health and family welfare department and the medical superintendent-cum-vice-principals of all government medical colleges in the state.

“The director of medical education wanted to know from us how many junior doctors have resumed duty. But nobody so far has reported for work,” said the head of a medical college in Calcutta.

The Supreme Court had told the counsel for the protesting doctors during a hearing on Monday that the junior medics “should” resume duties by 5pm on Tuesday.

The junior doctors, who have been on a cease-work since August 9 over the RG Kar rape and murder, have defied the deadline.

“We want talks with the government to end the impasse but the government is trying to find out who has joined and who has not. This is aimed at crushing the spirit of this movement,” said a junior doctor.