The Bombay High Court has issued a scathing remark against the Maharashtra police for their apparent lacklustre response to the assault on a doctor in Palghar district, pointing out that nine of the accused involved in the case continue to be absconding. The court described the police conduct as "unacceptable" and expressed frustration that law enforcement agencies have not demonstrated any willingness to learn from past failures in similar cases.
According to reports, the attack on the medical professional took place in a government health facility in the Palghar region, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Bombay High Court. The details surrounding the assault have sparked widespread outrage among healthcare workers across the state, many of whom argue that violence against doctors has become an endemic problem in Maharashtra's public hospital system.
What has drawn particular ire from the bench is the court's observation that this is not the first time such an incident has occurred. Just a few months ago, in July, another doctor was assaulted at a public hospital in the Dombivli area of Thane district. The high court noted that despite that earlier incident, the police and administration had taken insufficient steps to ensure accountability or deter future attacks. The failure to apprehend nine accused in the current case is seen by the court as evidence of a pattern of institutional negligence.
Legal experts say the high court's remarks signal a growing impatience with how police handle crimes against medical professionals. The court is expected to issue further directions to the Maharashtra government and the police department regarding the arrest of the absconding accused and a review of protocols for protecting doctors in government hospitals.
