The Supreme Court of India will hear a suo motu petition concerning the rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical Hospital in Kolkata on Tuesday, August 20. The case, listed as the first item on the agenda, is scheduled to begin at 10:30 am.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice J.B. Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra will hear the case. 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”, holds significant weight given that the Calcutta High Court has already transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The gruesome incident, which occurred in a seminar hall of the state-run hospital, has sparked nationwide protests by doctors demanding justice for the victim and an end to violence against healthcare professionals. The autopsy report revealed the victim sustained over 14 injuries across various parts of her body, including her head, face, neck, arms, and genitals. The report confirmed the cause of death as “manual strangulation combined with smothering.”
On Monday, the CBI received permission to conduct a polygraph test on Sanjay Roy, who was arrested as a suspect in the case. The protesting doctors are demanding swift action from the CBI to apprehend the perpetrators and for the court to impose the maximum punishment. They also seek an assurance from the government that such incidents will not occur in the future.
The Supreme Court’s hearing on the case is expected to be closely watched as it will have a significant impact on the ongoing investigations and the demands for justice by the medical community.