Today(17th Sept), Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal has informed the Supreme Court of threats of rape and physical harm against junior lawyers in his chamber, linked to their representation in the RG Kar Medical College rape-murder case. The threats are a response to their involvement in the sensitive case.
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NEW DELHI: Today(17th Sept), Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal has raised a serious concern before the Supreme Court of India regarding the safety of junior lawyers from his chamber who have received rape and physical harm threats. These threats have emerged as a direct result of their representation of the State of West Bengal in a highly sensitive case involving the rape and murder of a 31-year-old resident doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Sibal brought the issue to the attention of the Supreme Court while addressing the Bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. The incident has not only shocked the nation but has also put immense pressure on legal professionals involved in the case.
“There are threats to women in my chamber and then there are posts about me laughing. When did I laugh? It is being said that acid will be thrown at them and raped etc. People on the ground are saying this,”
-Sibal informed the Court, voicing his concern about the threats directed towards his junior colleagues.
The Bench was quick to respond to Sibal’s concerns, reassuring him that they would take necessary steps to address any such threats.
“If there are any such threats to any man or woman, we will step in,”
-said Chief Justice Chandrachud.
Sibal also expressed concern over how live-streamed hearings of emotionally charged cases like this one were damaging the reputations of legal professionals. The reputation, built over decades, he noted, was being tarnished overnight because of real-time comments made during these proceedings.
“I am deeply concerned about the situation. When a case with such emotional impact is livestreamed, it’s not about defending the accused but representing the State. As soon as the court makes a comment, our reputation is being damaged overnight. This is a matter of 50 years of hard-earned reputation.”
-he lamented.
Referring to a previous legal precedent, Sibal added-
“In the Swapnil Tripathi case, it was held that such cases should not be livestreamed.”
He further requested that the livestreaming of the case be halted, considering its serious nature and the safety concerns of those involved. However, the Bench declined this request, emphasizing the importance of transparency.
“We will not stop the livestreaming. It is in public interest,”
– Chief Justice Chandrachud responded, making it clear that public interest takes precedence in cases of this magnitude.
The case at the center of these discussions involves the brutal rape and murder of a young resident doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. The doctor’s body was discovered in a seminar hall at the college on August 9, and a subsequent autopsy confirmed the horrific details that she had been raped and then murdered. This heinous crime has ignited widespread outrage across India, leading to protests and strikes by medical professionals.
Doctors from different regions have voiced their concerns over safety and are demanding stricter laws to ensure the protection of healthcare workers. The tragic event has sparked a national debate on the safety and dignity of medical professionals, especially women.
In the wake of the gruesome crime, the Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is currently probing the case. Following this transfer, the Supreme Court initiated a suo motu case to oversee the investigation and ensure that justice is served.
In an earlier hearing, the Supreme Court issued significant directives, including the formation of a National Task Force to address the safety concerns of medical professionals, especially focusing on gender-based violence. The Task Force is expected to study and suggest measures to improve the safety and working conditions of doctors and other healthcare workers.
The Court also directed the CBI to submit a status report detailing the progress made in the investigation. Additionally, the State of West Bengal was ordered to file its own report concerning the acts of vandalism and violence that took place at the hospital following the crime.
Moreover, the Court instructed that CISF (Central Industrial Security Force) security be deployed at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital to prevent any further incidents and ensure the safety of the hospital staff and patients.
The question of livestreaming court proceedings has become a contentious issue. While the Supreme Court has recently made efforts to increase transparency by livestreaming important hearings, the real-time broadcast of sensitive cases, like the Kolkata doctor’s rape and murder, has raised concerns about the unintended consequences for lawyers and other professionals involved.
Kapil Sibal, representing the State, highlighted how social media and real-time coverage have led to public misinterpretations of legal arguments, which in turn, are damaging the personal and professional lives of the lawyers involved.
“It is 50 years of reputation,”
– Sibal emphasized.
His concerns echo broader fears within the legal community about how public sentiments, fueled by livestreamed court remarks, can sometimes spiral into targeted harassment and threats.
With the Supreme Court’s active involvement, including the formation of a National Task Force, and the ongoing CBI investigation, the nation now looks forward to seeing justice delivered in this horrific case.
However, the issue of threats to legal professionals like Sibal and his juniors must also be addressed, as the protection of lawyers is critical to ensuring a fair judicial process.
“If there are any such threats to any man or woman, we will step in,”
-the CJI reiterated, emphasizing the Court’s commitment to safeguarding the legal community.
