The Supreme Court Today (Aug 20) said it took suo motu cognisance of the rape and murder case of a postgraduate medic at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata as it raises systematic issue regarding safety of doctor across India. A bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud, which had taken cognisance of the incident, said if women are not able to go to work and working conditions are not safe, we are denying them equality.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court announced that it had taken suo motu cognisance of the rape and murder case of a postgraduate medical student at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, highlighting that this tragic incident underscores broader systemic issues regarding the safety of doctors across India.
The bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and including Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, emphasized the critical importance of ensuring safe working conditions for women, noting that
“if women are not able to go to work and working conditions are not safe, we are denying them equality.”
This statement underscores the Court’s recognition that the safety of female professionals is fundamental to gender equality.
The Supreme Court’s intervention in this case, formally titled “In Re: Alleged rape and murder incident of a trainee doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata and related issue,” carries significant weight, particularly because the Calcutta High Court has already been active in the matter.
The High Court had transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to ensure an impartial and thorough probe.
The case has sparked widespread outrage, leading to a doctors’ strike that has now extended into its second week, severely impacting patient care. The striking doctors are demanding that the CBI apprehend the perpetrators and that the court impose the maximum punishment on them.
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Additionally, they are calling for assurances from the government that “no such incidents occur in the future,” seeking long-term safety measures for healthcare professionals.
The alleged crime, which occurred on August 9, involved the brutal rape and murder of the junior doctor in a seminar hall within the hospital’s chest department. The discovery of her body, bearing severe injury marks, has ignited nationwide protests and calls for justice.
A civic volunteer was arrested by the Kolkata Police the day after the incident, but concerns about the adequacy of the investigation prompted the High Court to transfer the case to the CBI on August 13. The CBI commenced its investigation on August 14.
The Calcutta High Court’s decision to hand over the case to the CBI followed petitions, including one filed by the victim’s parents, who requested a court-monitored investigation to ensure that justice is served.
The Supreme Court’s involvement now adds further scrutiny and emphasizes the need for systemic changes to protect the safety and rights of medical professionals across the country.
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