The Supreme Court of India has taken suo motu cognizance of the tragic rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata. A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, will preside over the hearing scheduled for August 20.
The case, formally titled “In Re: Alleged Rape and Murder of Trainee Doctor in RG Kar Medical College Hospital, Kolkata and Related Issues,” addresses the horrifying incident discovered on August 9, when the body of a postgraduate trainee doctor was found in the hospital’s seminar room. The following day, Kolkata Police arrested a civic volunteer in connection with the crime.
Case Details:
- Incident: The body of a postgraduate trainee doctor was discovered on August 9 in RG Kar Hospital’s seminar room.
- Arrest: On August 10, a civic volunteer was arrested by Kolkata Police in connection with the case.
- Investigation Transfer: On August 13, the Calcutta High Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the investigation due to dissatisfaction with the progress made by the Kolkata Police.
- High Court’s Remarks: The High Court bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya cited concerns from the victim’s family about potential derailment of the investigation. They noted the surprising lack of a complaint from the hospital principal and the absence of significant investigative progress as key reasons for the transfer to the CBI. The bench emphasized the need to inspire public confidence and ensure justice.
“The parents of the victim have an apprehension that if the investigation is allowed to continue in this manner, it will derail. Therefore, they pray for extraordinary relief. One more disturbing aspect is that a case of unnatural death was registered. It is submitted that such cases are registered when there is no complaint. When the deceased was a doctor in the same hospital, it is surprising why the principal did not lodge a complaint. There has been no significant progress in the investigation. The administration was not with the victim or her family. The principal has not even given a statement. Without significant progress in the investigation, we would be well justified in accepting the prayers by the victim’s parents that evidence would be destroyed. Therefore, we transfer the investigation to the CBI to do justice between parties and to inspire public confidence,” stated the High Court.
Additional Developments:
- Protests and Vandalism: The High Court recently criticized the West Bengal administration for failing to prevent acts of vandalism at RG Kar Hospital during protests on August 14.
The upcoming Supreme Court hearing on August 20 will be closely watched as it addresses these grave concerns and the broader implications for justice and public trust in the investigative process.
For more updates on this case and other legal news, stay tuned.
