AIIMS Doctors Urge President's Probe Into Jantar Mantar Protest Handling, Wangchuk's Hospital Stay
The Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has written to President Droupadi Murmu requesting an independent, impartial, and time-bound inquiry into the events at Jantar Mantar on August 24, 2024. The doctors expressed concern over the alleged use of force against peaceful protesters and raised questions about the continued hospitalisation of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk.
In its letter, the RDA noted that reports and widely circulated videos of the protest indicated the use of lathi charge, tear gas, and physical force against protesters, including students, doctors, and young citizens. While acknowledging that certain aspects of the incident remain contested, the association stated that the available videos and eyewitness accounts had raised serious concerns over the manner in which peaceful democratic dissent was handled.
The doctors' body also expressed concern over videos purportedly showing police personnel with their faces and name badges covered, saying such actions undermine transparency and accountability. It further referred to videos allegedly showing security personnel threatening a professor and students of Lady Hardinge Medical College, stating that the allegations warrant an impartial and transparent investigation.
The association said the Constitution guarantees citizens the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, adding that any response to peaceful protests must be guided by restraint, proportionality, accountability, and respect for human dignity. If excessive force is established, it warned, it could erode public trust in democratic institutions.
The RDA also flagged Wangchuk's continued hospitalisation, saying reports suggesting he was not allowed to leave the hospital despite expressing a desire to take leave against medical advice (LAMA), if accurate, raise important questions about patient autonomy. It emphasised that informed consent and a competent patient's right to refuse or discontinue treatment are fundamental ethical and legal principles of medical practice.
The association urged the President to order an independent inquiry into the Jantar Mantar incident, ensure investigation into allegations of excessive force by law enforcement personnel, reaffirm citizens' constitutional rights to peaceful protest, and seek clarification regarding the circumstances of Wangchuk's continued hospitalisation while ensuring that patient rights and established principles of medical ethics are upheld.
Describing itself as an apolitical organisation, the AIIMS RDA said it remained independent of political affiliations and believed that every individual has the democratic right to peaceful protest. It said preserving constitutional values is essential for maintaining public confidence in democratic and healthcare institutions.
