Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder Case: A Bench led by Chief Justice Chandrachud has directed the CBI to submit a status report by August 22, while urging the West Bengal Government to exercise restraint in dealing with ‘peaceful protesters.’
On Tuesday, August 20, 2024, the Supreme Court constituted a national task force to examine the necessary measures to ensure the safety of medical professionals across the country.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud was hearing a suo motu case related to the rape and murder of a postgraduate medical student at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, which has sparked a nationwide doctors’ strike.
The Bench notably expressed serious concerns over the delay in registering an FIR related to the incident. “The parents were not present at the hospital when the incident occurred. It was the hospital’s responsibility to file a case,” Chief Justice Chandrachud emphasized.
In response to the mob violence that erupted at the hospital in the early hours of Thursday and the allegations that the Kolkata police fled the scene, the Supreme Court ordered the deployment of CISF personnel to secure the hospital premises.
The suo motu cognizance of the case, titled “In Re: Alleged rape and murder incident of a trainee doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, and related issue,” is particularly significant given that the Calcutta High Court has already intervened and transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
On Monday, the Central Division of the Kolkata Police arrested a second-year B.Com student for allegedly sharing social media posts that threatened the life of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and revealed the identity of the victim. According to the police, the posts were “provocative” and had the potential to incite “social unrest and promote hatred” within the community. The student was presented in court on Monday, August 19, 2024.
