Top Court slammed Bengal government on 'no night shift' order

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud today criticised a West Bengal government's notification saying state-run hospitals would avoid allotting night shifts to women doctors, stressing that it is the State's duty to provide them security.

Directing the Bengal government to amend the notification, which was issued in the wake of the rape-murder of a 31-year-old doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the Chief Justice said, "How can you say women cannot work at night? Why limit women doctors? They don't want a concession... women are ready to work in the same shift."

The court noted that the condition of women doctors not working at night would prejudice their careers. "Mr Sibal you have to look at it, the answer to it is that you must give security. West Bengal should correct the notification, your duty is to provide security, you cannot say that women cannot work at night. Pilots, Army etc all work at night," the Chief Justice said, addressing Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, counsel for the Mamata Banerjee government.

The court called the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) status report on the ongoing probe into the Kolkata rape and murder case "worse and disturbing." The CBI submitted a fresh status report to the Supreme Court regarding the ongoing investigation into the RG Kar rape and murder case.

The Chief Justice also noted that the CBI is facing challenges due to a "five-day delay" in the investigation, which has limited its progress.

After reviewing a letter dated September 12, the court noted that many of the issues raised were still under investigation by the CBI, and no conclusions could be drawn at this time.