The Supreme Court has raised significant concerns over the use of civic volunteers in hospital security during the hearing of the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder case. The Court questioned the safety measures taken by the state government to protect doctors, especially after it was revealed that a civic volunteer had been implicated in the crime.
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, addressing the state’s legal representatives, asked, “In the last hearing, we instructed the state to ensure adequate security for doctors. What steps have been taken?” The state’s lawyer responded, stating that measures had been implemented, and details were being provided to the Court.
Concerns Over Temporary Security Personnel
The Chief Justice raised doubts about the efficiency of temporary security personnel, particularly civic volunteers, some of whom are employed with only seven days of training. He pointed out that the accused in the RG Kar case was a civic volunteer, questioning how such an untrained individual was allowed to roam freely across the hospital premises.
“Are you still assigning the responsibility of security to temporary workers? Doctors are working for 36 hours straight; how can you justify such lax security measures in these conditions?” asked the Chief Justice, urging the state to reconsider its approach to hospital security.
Job Uncertainty for Civic Volunteers
The Supreme Court’s remarks have put the future of thousands of civic volunteers in jeopardy, as their role in critical positions like hospital security comes under intense scrutiny. The Chief Justice expressed doubts about whether seven days of training could adequately prepare volunteers for handling security in vital areas like hospitals.
“There are 28 medical colleges and 17 government-affiliated hospitals in the state. Many of the civic volunteers are young women, aged between 18 and 23. Assigning contractual workers for their safety naturally raises concerns about security,” remarked the Chief Justice.
Implications for Civic Volunteers
The Supreme Court’s observations have prompted concerns over the job security of thousands of civic volunteers in West Bengal. As the state government is urged to rethink its reliance on temporary staff for critical security roles, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact the civic volunteers employed across various state institutions.