New Delhi, September 16 - The Supreme Court is likely to hear on September 17 a case initiated on its own after the rape and murder of a resident doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. It must be mentioned that the resident doctors are still on strike despite the orders of the Supreme Court, these doctors were asked to return to work by 5 pm on September 10. That is why this hearing is considered important. On the other hand, the state government has claimed that 23 patients have died till September 9 due to doctors' strike and their absence from hospitals. The state government has invited the protesting doctors to a meeting today.