Today(17th Sept), Veteran lawyer Indira Jaising will represent the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Forum in the Supreme Court hearing of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case. She takes over from senior advocate Geeta Luthra, with her consent, amid ongoing protests by junior doctors.
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NEW DELHI: Veteran human rights lawyer Indira Jaising is set to represent the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Forum (WBJDF) in the case surrounding the brutal rape and murder of a from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The case, which has garnered widespread attention, will be heard by the Supreme Court today(September 17), following a series of protests led by the junior doctors at the hospital.
Previously, senior advocate Geeta Luthra had represented the junior doctors in this case. However, in a significant development, Indira Jaising has obtained Luthra’s consent to take over the representation.
“Indira Jaising has already secured Geeta Luthra’s consent to represent the WBJDF,”
-as confirmed by media
Jaising’s involvement in the case is particularly crucial given the mounting tensions and the collapse of recent meetings between the protesting doctors and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The state administration rejected the doctors’ plea to live-telecast the meetings, citing the ongoing Supreme Court case as the reason for the refusal. This development has further complicated the already charged atmosphere around the protests.
About Indira Jaising
Indira Jaising is one of India’s most renowned legal minds, with a long and illustrious career marked by her advocacy for human rights, particularly gender equality, labor rights, and access to healthcare. Born in 1940 in Mumbai (then Bombay), Jaising has been a trailblazer in several landmark cases, including representing victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy.
Notably, she is one of the key figures behind the push to live-stream Supreme Court proceedings, making the Indian judicial process more transparent.
“She is one of the key persons behind live-streaming the Supreme Court proceedings,”
-which was approved by a bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.
Jaising’s ability to secure such a significant shift in judicial transparency aligns with her long-standing commitment to accountability and justice.
In a revealing interview with the Financial Times earlier this year, Jaising spoke about her early life, reflecting on the personal challenges she faced during the partition.
“I experienced a sense of homelessness and statelessness,”
-she said, recalling how she resisted family pressure to enter into an arranged marriage, opting instead to study law.
She qualified as a lawyer in 1962, setting the stage for her future as a formidable advocate.
Jaising is married to fellow civil rights lawyer Anand Grover, and together they have been involved in various landmark cases. The couple co-founded the Lawyers Collective, a law firm dedicated to social justice causes.
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In 2009, Jaising became the first woman to be appointed Additional Solicitor General of India, a testament to her groundbreaking career. In 2018, Fortune magazine named her among the ‘Fifty Greatest Leaders’, further cementing her reputation as a pioneering advocate for justice.
The junior doctors at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital have been on strike since August 9, following the horrific rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at the institution. The WBJDF, the organization spearheading the protests, has made several demands, including greater safety for doctors and staff at the hospital. The protests have paralyzed the hospital, with many services coming to a halt as the doctors demand justice for their fallen colleague.
The government of West Bengal, represented by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, has made several attempts to resolve the situation. On September 16, West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant issued a “fifth and final” invitation for the doctors to meet with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Previously, on September 14, Banerjee had made an unexpected visit to the protest site, where she assured the doctors that their grievances would be addressed. However, the scheduled meeting did not proceed as planned, with the doctors alleging that they were kept waiting for hours and were eventually asked to leave “unceremoniously.”
Aniket Mahato, a prominent junior doctor and a key figure in the movement, confirmed Jaising’s role as the counsel for the WBJDF. “Jaising has obtained Luthra’s consent to represent us in the Supreme Court,” he said, adding that her participation would bring significant weight to their case.
Jaising’s involvement is also viewed as essential due to her experience in advocating for live-streaming judicial proceedings. Her push for transparency in the Supreme Court aligns with the WBJDF’s demand to live-stream their meetings with the government, a request that was denied by the state administration. The government’s refusal has only intensified the mistrust between the two sides.
The case has now reached the Supreme Court, with a three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, hearing the matter. On September 9, the court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a fresh status report on its investigation by today(September 17). The bench, which includes Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, also urged the protesting doctors to resume work by September 10. This came after Sibal suggested that the court consider proceedings against the doctors if they did not comply.
Meanwhile, senior counsels Karuna Nandi and Sabyasachi Chattopadhyay have been appointed to represent the Joint Platform of Doctors, West Bengal, an association of senior doctors who have expressed solidarity with the protesting junior doctors.
