Supreme Court Rebukes Corporator Ramesh Mhatre Over Assault on Dombivli Doctors
The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that individuals who assault healthcare workers are not entitled to bail, while hearing a plea by Shiv Sena corporator Ramesh Mhatre challenging the Bombay High Court's strict bail conditions in an assault case that occurred in Dombivli.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and AG Masih came down heavily on the Kalyan-Dombivli corporator, remarking that incidents of violence against medical staff inside hospitals cannot be taken lightly. The apex court noted that the petitioner should have been placed in detention rather than receiving bail.
"Medical personnel are threatened like this, who will come to the aid of people at large? Absolutely not justified. This kind of people don't deserve it," the bench observed. The court further questioned whether anyone could simply walk into a hospital to hit staff, highlighting the severe mental trauma caused to healthcare workers when mobs attack medical facilities.
The case stems from an incident on July 6 at Shastri Nagar General Hospital in Dombivli, where Mhatre and five associates allegedly assaulted two contractual doctors and two nurses. According to medical staff, the altercation erupted after a pregnant woman was referred to Sion Hospital in Mumbai because the Dombivli facility had no available beds in its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Doctors Vaibhav Salunkhe and Shrusti Baviskar alleged that Mhatre verbally abused and physically assaulted them without understanding the clinical reasons necessitating the transfer. The alleged attack was captured on the hospital's CCTV cameras.
On August 7, the Bombay High Court granted bail to Mhatre on the strict condition that he stay outside the state of Maharashtra until the police file a chargesheet in the case. Under those conditions, Mhatre and three co-accused must also report to a local police station three times a week in whichever state they reside during this period.
During the Supreme Court hearing, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Mhatre, argued that the High Court erred by initiating suo motu proceedings to stay the bail order. However, the apex court bench rejected the contention and indicated it would uphold the High Court's initial order staying the bail granted to the corporator.
