The Supreme Court concluded its hearing on Tuesday in the suo motu case over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The court pulled up the West Bengal government for hiring private security personnel on a contractual basis. It noted that the main accused in the RG Kar rape and murder case (Sanjay Roy) was also a civic volunteer on contract.
A three-judge bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud considered the fresh status report of the CBI, investigating the RG Kar rape and murder case. The top court, finding status report details ‘disturbing,’ held that the probe agency is looking into the fact that whether there were any efforts to alter the crime scene. It added that the probe agency needs adequate time to unearth the truth.
Meanwhile, the state of West Bengal furnished details related to security measures, the latest report on the ‘confidence-building’ exercise for doctors and assured that no punitive actions will be taken against doctors for their cease-work once they resume duty.
The CBI has arrested the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh and former officer-in-charge of Tala Police Station Abhijit Mondal in connection with the RG Kar rape and murder case.
Mondal was in charge of the Tala Police Station when the body of the medic was recovered from the seminar hall within the hospital premises on August 9. Both Ghosh and Mondal are accused of tampering with the evidence of crime, violating official procedure and misleading the probe. Ghosh is already in CBI custody in a case of financial irregularities at the hospital.
SC Expresses Concern Over Hiring Of Security On Contract-Basis
The top court expressed concerns over the steps taken by the state government for hiring private security personnel on a contractual basis under the “Rattirer Sathi” scheme. The top court noted that the main accused in the RG Kar rape and murder case was also a civic volunteer on contract.
The Bengal government assured that the state will implement a biometric registration system to restrict access to places where women doctors rest.
No Punitive Action Against Doctors For Cease Work: Bengal Govt
Sibal, for the West Bengal government, stated that no punitive actions will be taken against the doctors for their month-long cease-work. It came after senior advocate Jaising, appearing for the Junior Doctors Front, urged the top court to record that doctors should not face actions for their strike once they resume duty.
SC Raps Bengal Govt Over Its Policy For Woman Doctors
Reacting to the West Bengal government’s new policy to avoid deploying women doctors at night shifts, the SC said, “You cannot tell women to not work at night. It is your duty to provide them protection whenever they work. Women pilots, defence personnel, etc, work at night.”
The West Bengal government said SC it would withdraw its notification for women doctors limiting duty to 12 hours and night duty avoidance.
What Are The Confidence-Building Measures Taken For Doctors
Sibal referred to the ‘confidence building steps by the state’ document to read out the measures taken by the West Bengal government to create a degree of confidence in the minds of the doctors that their concerns regarding their safety and security are being duly attended to.
“Work has begun for making resting rooms for male and female doctors, which will be completed in 7-14 days. Additional toilets and CCTV camera installation will be completed in 7-14 days,” Sibal informed the court.
CBI Probing Whether Crime Scene Was Altered: SC
After the CBI submitted the fresh status report in the RG Kar rape and murder case, the top court held that the probe agency is looking into the fact that whether there were any efforts to alter the crime scene. It added that the probe agency needs adequate time to unearth the truth.
SC Directs Wikipedia To Take Down Details Of Victim
The Supreme Court directed Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia, to take down the name and photo disclosing the identity of the victim in the RG Kar rape and murder case that took place on August 9.
“The governing principle is that identity of the victim in rape and murder shall not be disclosed,” the top court said. It further directed the Wikipeda to comply with the orders passed in this regard.
Details Are Disturbing: SC On CBI Status Report
The Supreme Court said that the details furnished by the probe agency in its fresh status report were disturbing and a matter of concern. The court’s observation came after the CBI counsel informed the bench that there should be two separate lists for the seizures made from the crime scene. “When I was harping that the jeans and undergarments were not taken…the seizures have to take place ….what was the date these samples were sent for testing.”
CBI Submits Fresh Status Report, SC Responds
Supreme Court bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud examined the confidential status report submitted by the CBI on the progress made in investigating the rape and murder case so far and said, “Making a disclosure today of what the CBI is investigating will jeopardise the process, the line which is taken by the CBI is to unearth the truth…SHO has been arrested….we have seen the status report and CBI has responded to all of the issues we have raised.”
The top court noted that the probe agency is required to get more time to complete its investigation and unearth the truth in the RG Kar rape and murder case. “There is still time to complete the investigation. We have to give CBI adequate time, they are not sleeping over,” the SC added.
Bengal Govt Raises ‘Threat To Women Lawyers’ Issue
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the West Bengal government, raised the issue of threats to the women lawyer representing the state government. He said, “We are getting threats that acid will be thrown, we will be raped (women lawyers in the case).” He was referring to the social media threats being given to lawyers representing the state of Bengal in the RG Kar rape and murder case.
Mamata Removes Kolkata CP, Health Officials
The hearing comes a day after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday night announced the removal of Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, the director of health services and the director of medical education. The decision was reached following a six-hour-long meeting with the junior doctors seeking justice for the victim. Bengal CM noted that in the wake of the statewide stir and allegations against the Kolkata Police, Goyal himself wanted to step down.
Bengal Govt Likely To Furnish Challan Details
The West Bengal government is likely to clarify whether a death challan was issued before the autopsy of the victim. During the last hearing, the CJI noted the importance of challan in such cases which mentions items like clothes seized by police for the investigation.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, informed the court that the challan was missing from the files handed over by Kolkata Police.
What SC Said In the Last Hearing On September 9
In the last hearing on September 9, the top court termed the rape and murder case of the medic as ‘horrific,’ which raises the ‘systemic issue of safety of doctors across the country.’ The top court also ordered the constitution of a National Task Force (NTF) to suggest measures for the security of medical professionals.
The strike called by the junior doctors is also likely to be mentioned in the hearing as the top court directed the medics to resume duties by September 10.
The top court had also asked the state government to take measures to create a degree of confidence among the doctors. “Create a degree of confidence in the minds of the doctors that their concerns about their safety and security are attended to,” the court said.