Supreme Court Questions Bengal Govt’s Decision to Bar Female Doctors from Night Duty

New Delhi: A bench of the Supreme Court led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud on Tuesday questioned a recent West Bengal Government notification that bars women doctors from night duties and limits their work shifts to a maximum of 12 hours.

The apex court showed up its concern over this gender specific work regulations ordered by the West Bengal in state hospitals.

The Supreme Court pointed at it during the suo-motu hearing on a trainee doctor’s alleged rape and murder at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The bench expressed concern that such a restriction could adversely impact the careers of female medical professionals.

The court said that the condition that women doctors won’t work at night will affect their careers, hours of duty should be reasonable for all doctors.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the West Bengal government, clarified that the current notification is temporary, and the state intends to issue a revised one soon.

The apex court also suggested West Bengal government to consult senior officials and representatives of senior and junior doctors to carry out the process for making proper arrangements for toilet facilities and installation of CCTVs and biometric access in the hospitals