New Delhi: Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud criticized West Bengal’s notification restricting women doctors from working night shifts, emphasizing that the state must provide security rather than limit opportunities for women. The notification came after the tragic rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
“Why limit women doctors? They don’t want concessions; they are ready to work the same shifts,” the Chief Justice remarked, directing the Bengal government to amend the rule. He stressed that the solution lies in ensuring safety, not restricting work hours, pointing to professions like pilots and the army where women work at night.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the Bengal government, assured the court that the clause would be removed, acknowledging that it could harm women doctors’ careers.
