The Calcutta High Court on Monday hoped and trusted that agitating student will not take any measures so as to disrupt the medical facilities at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital and maintain the sanctity of the silent zone at the Hospital and the Medical College.
A division bench, comprising Justices Debangsu Basak and Rabindranath Samanta, heard a PIL filed by one Nand Lal Tewari alleging that medical services at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital have been affected due to the agitation by a section of interns and students. The advocate for the petitioner requested the High Court to put in measures so as to tide over the impasse.
S.N. Mookherjee, Advocate General, submitted that there are issues with regard to ingress and egress of medical staff and the public in general at the Hospital. The agitations are being carried on in such a manner that it impedes the medical facilities at the Hospital, and that the agitations are affecting the public interest.
Surya Prasad Chattopadhyay, advocate for the agitating students, drew the attention of the Court to a statement dated October 23, 2021. He submitted that the agitating students will adhere to it. He further submitted that representatives of his client may be allowed to meet the Health Secretary in order to discuss the impasse.
Consequently, the Court deemed it appropriate to request the Health Secretary to meet the representatives of the agitating students, not exceeding six in number on October 29, 2021 at 11 AM at the office of the Health Secretary. “The Health Secretary is at liberty to hear such other parties that he deems appropriate.”
The Court clarified that the right to protest by the agitating students peacefully is not curtailed by this order while posting the matter on November 2.