The Bombay High Court has stayed the bail granted to Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) corporator Ramesh Mhatre in the case involving an assault on doctors and nurses at Shastri Nagar Hospital in Dombivli, taking suo motu cognizance of the matter. The court has cancelled the bail granted to Mhatre and his associates and issued a strict order directing him to surrender within a fixed deadline.
High Court surprised by magistrate court's order
A special hearing was held at the Bombay High Court on Saturday in this case, during which the bail earlier granted to Ramesh Mhatre and his four associates was cancelled. The controversy had erupted after three doctors were assaulted at a government hospital in Kalyan. Soon after the incident, the Kalyan magistrate court had granted bail to Mhatre. The High Court took suo motu cognizance of that very order and took up the matter for hearing. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad expressed surprise at the magistrate court's approach during the hearing.
Surrender by 5 pm on July 19 or face property attachment
The bench observed during the hearing that the entire case had been treated far too lightly so far, calling the approach unacceptable. The court then gave Ramesh Mhatre a strict ultimatum to appear and surrender at the Dombivli police station by 5 pm on July 19. It also made clear that if Mhatre fails to surrender within this deadline, authorities could proceed to attach his property. During the same hearing, the High Court also appealed to doctors' organisations to withdraw the state-wide strike proposed for Monday, so that patients are not inconvenienced.
Doctors angry, IMA Maharashtra announces shutdown
News of the assault on doctors in Dombivli had triggered strong anger among the medical community across Maharashtra, with several doctors' organisations already staging protests. The High Court's latest order has now given the case an entirely new turn. The Indian Medical Association, or IMA Maharashtra, had already announced that regular health services across the state would remain shut for a full 24 hours on July 20. This includes OPDs, pre-scheduled surgeries and general medical services. However, the organisation has also clarified that emergency services, ICU, maternity and other life-saving services will remain completely unaffected by the shutdown, so that treatment for critically ill patients is not disrupted.
Next hearing on July 22
The High Court has fixed July 22 as the date for the next hearing in the case, when further action and the status of Mhatre's surrender will be reviewed. For now, attention remains on whether Ramesh Mhatre complies with the court's order and surrenders within the deadline, and on what stance doctors' organisations eventually take on the proposed state-wide strike. The High Court's firm stance has also sent a signal that negligence in cases involving the safety of healthcare workers will not be tolerated.
