The Supreme Court of India is currently hearing a case regarding the horrific rape and murder of a postgraduate medical student at Kolkata’s RG Kar hospital. The incident, which has sparked nationwide protests, involves the alleged murder of the junior doctor in a seminar hall of the state-run hospital.
During the hearing, the West Bengal government informed the court that 23 people have died since doctors went on strike. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the state government, presented a status report filed by the state health department to a bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud. He stated, “A status report has been filed. The state health department has filed a report. Twenty-three people have died as doctors are on strike.”
The Supreme Court is currently reviewing the status report filed by the state and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The hearing is ongoing.
On August 22, the court had sharply criticized the Kolkata Police for their delay in registering a case regarding the doctor’s unnatural death. The court found the delay and procedural timeline “extremely disturbing” and questioned the sequence of events.
Previously, the Supreme Court had established a 10-member National Task Force (NTF) to develop a protocol for safeguarding doctors and healthcare workers. The court described the incident as “horrific” and condemned the state government for delaying the filing of the First Information Report (FIR) and allowing thousands to vandalize the hospital.
