In a growing row with the West Bengal government, junior doctors in Kolkata have maintained their strike, defying a Supreme Court order to resume work by 5 p.m. on September 10, 2024. The protest, which began on August 9 in response to the discovery of a female doctor's death at RG Kar Medical College, has gained momentum as doctors seek justice. Despite the court's order, the physicians have announced a new phase of their protest, including a procession from Karunamoyee to Swasthya Bhavan on Tuesday.

Junior physicians staged a sit-in outside Swasthya Bhawan, the state health department's headquarters, after becoming severely irritated with the state's refusal to meet their requests. Authorities prepared mobile toilets and other facilities at the protest location in anticipation of the large turnout. A source within Swasthya Bhawan stated that the administration was ready to conversation, noting, "A delegation of doctors would be welcomed if they wanted to come inside and talk." However, the junior doctors remain steadfast in their position. One junior doctor insisted, "We are not here to deliver a deputation. "If our demands are not met, we will hold an indefinite dharna."

By the 5 p.m. deadline, the younger doctors had not resumed their work. Instead, they threatened to escalate their protest if they weren't permitted to deliver their demands to health officials. As tensions rose, the gate to Swasthya Bhawan remained closed when the physicians arrived, and the sit-in persisted.

Junior physicians are demanding immediate justice for the victim in the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case, the identification of all perpetrators, the resignation of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, and reforms to improve the safety of healthcare professionals across the state. They also demanded accountability for the suspected destruction of case-related evidence.

The protest has also aroused outrage over remarks made by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who on Monday urged the physicians to stop their strike, saying, "It has been a month. Return to the festivities," referring to the impending Durga Puja. The younger doctors blasted her remarks as "insensitive," stating that they would not participate in any festivities until justice was done. The opposition also criticised the Chief Minister's comments, exacerbating the issue.

A dramatic moment in the protest came when junior physicians marched with symbolic "brains" in their hands, a metaphorical message against what they view as Swasthya Bhawan's inaction. A junior doctor elaborated, "Let the Swasthya Bhawan work at least this time," emphasising their dissatisfaction with what they saw as widespread corruption in the state's health service.

The junior doctors' five-point charter of demands illustrates the severity of their complaints. In addition to seeking justice for the RG Kar doctor, they want a complete overhaul of the healthcare system to ensure a safe and democratic atmosphere for medical workers across all state institutions.

The strike has reached a critical point, with both sides unwilling to back down. As the protest progresses, it raises serious concerns about the state's ability to resolve this disagreement, which has put a tremendous burden on West Bengal's healthcare system.

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Junior physicians in Kolkata continue to strike, defying a Supreme Court ruling and demanding justice in the RG Kar Medical College case. They are also demonstrating outside Swasthya Bhawan with symbolic gestures.