The somotu rape and murder case in the Supreme Court were heard on Tuesday at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital which is a graduate medical doctor in Kolkata that ended up being very noisy all over the country because of women’s safety at work.
Supreme Court files case led by Mamata Banerjee government of west bengal for its lackadaisical approach in handling the case and asked the Central Bureau of Investigation, which is currently probing the matter, to submit a report by Thursday.
The court said it could not understand “how the state of West Bengal allowed a mob to vandalize the RG Kar Hospital when the police’s duty is to protect the hospital round the clock, which was a horrific crime scene”.
“It appears that the crime was discovered in early hours and medical college principal tried to pass off as suicide,” noted Supreme Court in an observation.
The incident has dealt a serious blow to national conscience as per court records.
This is what Supreme Court said here:
- Kolkata Police came under severe criticism from Supreme Court for asking how thousands of people entered RG Kar Medical College on August 14-15 night.
- Moreover, “How did mob sabotage equipment without any knowledge of police at Kolkata city? What were they doing? We are very very worried about it,” said court further.
- Do not unleash powers on protesting doctors, civil society or lawyers: The apex court warned West Bengal government.
- Supreme Court says that West Bengal government must not unleash powers moment of national catharsis upon protesters
- The bench blamed Kolkata Police for delay in filing FIR but questioned also what hospital authorities were doing. “We don’t understand why FIR was registered after 12 hours,” added CJI Chandrachud saying so.
- “When women cannot go to work and working conditions are not safe we deny them equal rights,” Chief Justice Chandrachud said.
- According to court documentations regarding Kolkata rape case “it’s not an isolated criminal problem but rather pan-India healthcare establishment”.
- In addition, the Supreme Court censured the disclosure of names and graphic details on the deceased doctors indicating that it undermined their dignity.
“Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General representing Centre said “West Bengal must not be in a state of denial. There is complete failure of law and order in West Bengal”.
CJI Chandrachud told Kapil Sibal, representing the state, that there was “unexplained delay in registration of FIR” and said the state must ensure that those who attacked the hospital on August 14 are arrested and prosecuted.
“Indeed there was unexplained delay in registering an FIR for rape and murder at RG Kar Hospital.” – CJI said.
On Tuesday, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud along with Justices JB Pardiwala And Manoj Misra heard this case.
The Supreme Court intervened after widespread anger and strikes by doctors across India who accused state police forces of mishandling the case.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA), the biggest doctors’ body in India, has been at the forefront of calls for justice among doctors who have been murdered. In response to this, IMA organized a nationwide strike on Saturday and closed down all non-essential healthcare services for 24 hours. Last Wednesday night, thousands of women across the country took to the streets in “Take Back the Night” demonstrations demanding justice for these victims.
RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata witnessed a case where one postgraduate trainee doctor was raped and killed last week.
On 9th August morning, she was found dead half-naked at the discussion hall of government-run hospital in West Bengal’s capital city. A community volunteer has already been apprehended concerning this matter.
On Tuesday, Calcutta High Court gave an order that investigation into this matter be transferred from Kolkata Police to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
