The Supreme Court has issued an urgent directive for striking doctors in West Bengal to resume their duties by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, warning that continued non-compliance could lead to disciplinary action. This order comes amid ongoing hearings related to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital.

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud expressed frustration with the West Bengal government's handling of the case, particularly criticizing the 14-hour delay in filing the First Information Report (FIR) and the missing document necessary for the post-mortem. He questioned why the challan, a crucial document for post-mortem procedures, was not available.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, revealed that the challan was missing from the records, raising concerns about the legality of the post-mortem process. The CBI's report indicated that key forensic evidence was mishandled, including improperly stored blood samples and issues with the handling of evidence and CCTV footage.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the West Bengal government, confirmed the death certificate was issued at 1:47 p.m., but the police entry was recorded at 2:55 p.m. The CBI, however, reported that the report was filed at 11:30 p.m., adding to the confusion.

The Supreme Court also addressed the impact of the doctors' strike, noting that 23 deaths had occurred due to the work stoppage. The Chief Justice emphasized that while the court understands the situation, doctors must return to work, and warned that the government may take disciplinary measures if the strike continues.

In response to security concerns at the hospital, the Centre highlighted issues with accommodation and security for CISF personnel. The Court instructed both the West Bengal government and CISF to address these issues immediately, ensuring that all necessary arrangements are in place by the end of the day.

The Supreme Court is set to review a fresh status report from the CBI by September 17, as the case continues to unfold.