The Calcutta High Court has permitted doctors to hold a peaceful sit-in demonstration against the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
The Division Bench of Justice Harish Tandon and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya, while upholding the single-judge verdict, modified the same to the extent of reducing the total attendance at the protest from 250 to 100 doctors.
It modified the order, in view of the state’s appeal that major roads would be blocked, causing difficulties to commuters during the busy Christmas period.
The High Court observed that every citizen of the country had the right to protest peacefully, provided sufficient measures were taken to ensure that the agitation did not encroach upon the rights of people at large.
Taking in view the nationwide protest in relation to the incident, the Division Bench said the Doctors, being responsible citizens of the country, were aware that any protest encroaching upon the rights of the parties was not acceptable. While refusing to grant permission for such demonstrations, the authorities must also bear in mind the other past incidents, wherein permission was granted for similar agitations, it noted.