In a significant legal development, noted lawyer and social activist Indira Jaising will now represent the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Forum (WBJDF) in the Supreme Court.
The forum has been at the forefront of protests following the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata last month.
The court has scheduled the hearing for 17 September.
Senior advocate Geeta Luthra previously represented the junior doctors.
However, sources have confirmed that Jaising has secured Luthra’s approval to take over as the lead counsel for the forum in this high-profile case.
Meanwhile, senior doctors in the state, united under the Joint Platform of Doctors, West Bengal, continue to back the junior doctors’ protest.
Their legal representation will include senior advocates Karuna Nandi and Sabyasachi Chattopadhyay.
Aniket Mahato, a key figure in the junior doctors’ movement, confirmed that Jaising’s presence in court would mark a pivotal moment for their fight for justice.
Jaising, a prominent advocate of transparency in judicial proceedings, advocated for the live-streaming of Supreme Court hearings, a practice now in place following her petition before a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud.
Her involvement is seen as especially crucial amid recent tensions between the junior doctors and the West Bengal government.
The state administration rejected efforts to arrange a live telecast of a meeting between the WBJDF and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, citing the ongoing legal proceedings as the reason.
Observers believe Jaising’s role in the upcoming hearing may lend additional weight to the junior doctors’ demands, both in court and beyond.
Also Read: RG Kar Case: Two Arrested Over TMC Leader’s Audio Clip Alleging Plot Against Doctors
