The case was taken up suo motu by the Court, with a bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, and including Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.
![[RG Kar Rape-Murder] "23 Died Due To Doctors' Strike": WB Tells SC | CJI Takes Up CBI's Status Report On Probe](https://i0.wp.com/lawchakra.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/image-13-2.png?resize=820%2C820&ssl=1)
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court is hearing a case on Monday (9th Sept) concerning the rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata.
The case was taken up suo motu by the Court, with a bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, and including Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.
During the hearing, the CBI presented its status report on the investigation to the bench, which was reviewed by the judges in a sealed envelope.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta is representing the central agency, while senior advocate Kapil Sibal is appearing on behalf of the West Bengal government.
Sibal informed the bench, which included Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, that
“A status report has been filed by the state health department, indicating that 23 people have died due to the ongoing doctors’ strike.”
However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated that he had not received a copy of the department’s report.
During an August 20 hearing, the Supreme Court described the situation as “horrific” and issued several directives, including the creation of a 10-member National Task Force to develop a protocol aimed at safeguarding doctors and other healthcare professionals.
The case revolves around a tragic incident where a 31-year-old trainee doctor was raped and murdered inside the seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata on August 9. A civil volunteer has been arrested for the crime, which has led to widespread protests across the country that are ongoing.
On August 22, the court criticized the Kolkata Police for delaying the registration of the unnatural death case. It also urged the protesting doctors to resume work, emphasizing that “justice and medicine” cannot be put on hold.
The investigation was transferred from the Kolkata Police to the CBI under the direction of the Calcutta High Court.
The Union Ministry of Home Affairs recently submitted an application accusing the West Bengal government of failing to cooperate with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which had been deployed to provide security at RG Kar Hospital.
The Ministry termed this lack of support as “unpardonable” and reflective of broader governance issues, requesting the court to direct state officials to fully cooperate. If non-cooperation continues, the Centre asked for contempt proceedings against the officials involved, citing “willful non-compliance.”
During the August 22 hearing, the Supreme Court criticized the Kolkata Police for the delay in registering the case as an unnatural death. The court also urged protesting doctors nationwide to return to work, stressing that “justice and medicine” must not be disrupted. The court ordered increased protection for medical professionals to ensure their safety.
Earlier, on August 20, the Supreme Court described the doctor’s murder and alleged rape as “horrific” and formed a 10-member National Task Force to establish protocols for safeguarding healthcare workers.
The junior doctor’s death, discovered on August 9 with severe injuries in the hospital’s seminar hall, sparked nationwide protests. On August 10, the Kolkata Police arrested a civic volunteer in connection with the crime. The Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation to the CBI on August 13.
In the meantime, thousands took to the streets of Kolkata on Sunday night, demanding justice for the RG Kar doctor. Protesters of all ages, both men and women, formed human chains, wrote graffiti on the roads, carried burning torches, sang the national anthem, and waved the tricolour.
