Through an email by state chief secretary Manoj Panth on Monday, it was communicated that “this is the fifth and final time we are reaching out”, and “there will be no live streaming or videography of the meeting… Instead, the minutes of the meeting will be recorded and signed by both parties”. The email stated that it would take place at 5 pm on the same day.

“The same delegation which came for the last discussions is requested to arrive at the venue at 4:45 PM today,” it said.

This comes after talks between the CM and doctors broke down twice, at Nabanna (state secretariat) and Banerjee’s residence, in recent days over the state government refusing doctors’ demand to have the meeting live-streamed. The move also comes a day ahead of the Supreme Court’s next hearing on the RG Kar Medical Hospital rape and murder case.

Notably, Banerjee had visited protestors near Swasthya Bhavan to appeal to them on Sunday in an attempt to resolve their impasse, saying that her “post” as CM does not matter as much as “people’s posts” and that she “needs time” to probe the officials the protestors were demanding the resignation of.

“In view of the Honourable Supreme Court order dated September 9, 2024, directing junior doctors to resume duties by 5 pm on September 10, 2024, it is our bounden duty, as law-abiding citizens, to follow and adhere to the apex court’s directive,” the email read.

“We trust that good sense will prevail, and as mutually agreed and as per your statement to the media the day before – there will be no live streaming or videography of the meeting, given that the matter is sub judice in the highest court of the country,” it added.

“In line with our discussion from the day before, we are once again inviting you to a meeting with the Honourable Chief Minister at her Kalighat residence for a discussion with an open mind,” Panth wrote.

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