You cannot restrict women from working at night, SC tells West Bengal government

The Supreme Court on Tuesday told the West Bengal government that women doctors cannot be restricted from working night shifts or in shifts longer than 12 hours, Bar and Bench reported.

This came after the state government told the bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, that it had notified such rules as part of its security measures to ensure the safety of medics at work.

The bench was hearing a suo motu case relating to the rape and murder of a 31-year-old resident doctor at Kolkata’s state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August.

“Women do not want concessions, but equal opportunities,” Chandrachud told the Trinamool Congress government. “They are willing to work in all conditions…Your duty is to provide security.”

The chief justice added: “We cannot tell any woman today in our country, who is in the workforce, that you will not work at night.”

The state government said it will correct its notification.

A group representing junior doctors in the state, who have been on strike to protest their colleague’s rape and murder, told the court on Tuesday that they were willing to return to work after meeting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday, reported Live Law.

After the meeting, Banerjee announced that Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal and other senior officials would be removed from their...

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