"Medical fraternity can't be touched": SC stays bail for Shiv Sena corporator
The Supreme Court has stayed the bail of Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre, emphasizing that the medical fraternity cannot be subjected to attacks.
In a significant ruling aimed at protecting healthcare workers, the Supreme Court on Monday stayed the Bombay High Court’s decision to grant bail to Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre. Mhatre stands accused of being part of an assault on doctors at a municipal hospital in Thane. The apex court has directed him to surrender within three days.
A Strong Message for Medical Safety
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta delivered a stern observation regarding the safety of healthcare professionals. The court emphasized that the legal system must send an unequivocal signal to prevent such violence.
“The message should go out loud and clear that the medical fraternity cannot be touched. They serve people and cannot be attacked in this manner,” the bench observed.
Justice Mehta further noted that the case was of a serious nature, as it involved an interference with public order. The bench also pointed out a pattern, taking note of another incident involving a member of the same political party that allegedly occurred following the Mhatre incident.
The July 6 Hospital Assault
The legal battle stems from an incident that took place on July 6 at the Shastri Nagar Hospital. According to the allegations, the violence erupted after relatives of a pregnant woman accused the hospital staff of delaying her medical treatment. Following an initial altercation, Ramesh Mhatre and four other individuals allegedly entered the hospital and assaulted the doctors on duty.
The timeline of legal proceedings is as follows:
- July 15: Mhatre was initially granted bail by a Thane court.
- August 7: The Bombay High Court granted bail to Mhatre and four others, while imposing conditions that they remain outside Maharashtra until the chargesheet was filed and that the trial be completed within a set timeframe.
- September 28: The Supreme Court stayed the High Court's bail order following an appeal by the Maharashtra government.
Concerns Over Repeated Attacks
The Supreme Court has previously expressed deep concern regarding the rising frequency of attacks on medical professionals in Maharashtra. During a hearing on September 7, the bench noted that individuals sharing the "same ideology" were allegedly implicated in such incidents.
The current proceedings follow a complex legal history where Mhatre had previously challenged stringent conditions imposed by the High Court in a separate assault case in Dombivli. After the apex court indicated its inclination to cancel his bail in that matter, Mhatre withdrew his appeal, leading the court to focus on the Maharashtra government's challenge regarding the Shastri Nagar Hospital assault.