23 dead in doctors' strike: Bengal government submits report to Supreme Court | News from India

NEW DELHI: During a hearing on the rape and murder of a PhD student at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, the West Bengal government on Monday informed the Supreme Court that 23 persons have lost their lives due to the ongoing doctors' strike. The strike was called in protest against the rape and murder of a PhD student on RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Calcutta.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the West Bengal government, submitted a status report prepared by the state health department to a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud. “A status report has been submitted. The state health department has submitted a report. 23 people have died because the doctors are on strike,” Sibal told the bench, which also comprised Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.
Earlier, on August 22, the Supreme Court had strongly criticised the Kolkata Police for delaying in registering the unnatural death of the doctor who was raped and killed at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata. The court termed the situation “extremely disturbing” and raised questions about the sequence of events and the timing of the procedural formalities.
In the last hearing, the West Bengal government was asked by the Supreme Court to submit a report on its investigation into the August 14 incidents of vandalism and violence at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The Supreme Court also had a 10-member National Task Force (NTF) is to develop a protocol to ensure the safety of doctors and other healthcare professionals.
The Supreme Court expressed outrage over the incident, which it described as “appalling”, and sharply criticised the Bengal government for delaying the complaint and for allowing thousands of people to vandalise the government facility.
The alleged rape and murder of the junior doctor, whose body was discovered with severe injuries in the seminar room of the hospital's pulmonary department on August 9, has sparked nationwide protests. The following day, a volunteer was arrested by the Kolkata police in connection with the case.
On 13 August Calcutta High Court ordered the transfer of the investigation from the Calcutta Police to the CBI, which began its investigation on August 14.