The Supreme Court of India is hearing the case of the trainee doctor’s rape and murder in Kolkata. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is scheduled to file a status report on the progress of their investigation today. This case has sparked widespread protests across India, prompting the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance. In response, the court has constituted a National Task Force to recommend guidelines for ensuring the safety of medical professionals. The task force is expected to submit its interim report within three weeks and its final report within two months.
The Supreme Court has expressed deep concern about the safety of doctors across India. The court stated that denying women the right to work safely and securely is a violation of their basic right to equality. “If women cannot go to work and be safe, we are denying them the basic right to equality. We have to do something,” the court asserted.
The trainee doctor’s body was found with severe injury marks inside the seminar hall of the hospital’s chest department on August 9th. A civic volunteer was arrested by the Kolkata Police the following day for his alleged involvement in the rape-murder incident. On August 21st, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose visited the family of the deceased trainee doctor.
Following student demands, the West Bengal Health Department removed the newly appointed principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Suhrita Pal, who was also the Head of the Chest Department, along with one Assistant Superintendent. Manas Kumar Bandyopadhyay has been named as the new principal of the institution.
The Supreme Court urged striking doctors to end their strike, emphasizing that their concerns are being given utmost importance. The court also directed the West Bengal government to refrain from using state power against peaceful protestors and individuals expressing their views on the incident.
The Supreme Court has ordered the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to provide security at RG Kar Medical College Hospital in Kolkata. The court also expressed deep concern about the widespread publication of the victim’s name and photograph across India, emphasizing that such actions violate the law prohibiting the disclosure of victims’ identities.
Meanwhile, no lawyer has stepped forward to represent Sanjay Roy, the primary suspect in the Kolkata rape and murder case. The absence of legal representation is hindering the CBI’s investigation, as they are unable to conduct a polygraph test without the accused’s consent. A lawyer is essential to explain the test’s implications, provide legal advice, and help Roy make an informed decision regarding his consent.
The BJP has demanded the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the wake of the incident, while the TMC has dismissed these calls as “drama politics,” asserting that the case is under the Supreme Court’s purview.
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Director, M Srinivas, has requested the Resident Doctors Association to return to work, highlighting the difficulties faced by patients who have traveled from distant locations. He reassured the doctors of their safety and security, outlining the establishment of two committees to address their concerns. AIIMS has 2,900 security guards and CCTV cameras installed throughout the institution.
