The Supreme Court has expressed deep concern and frustration over the handling of the horrific rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, questioning the West Bengal government's and Kolkata police's delayed response in registering an FIR. The case, which has shocked the nation, was taken up suo moto by the apex court on Tuesday.
Led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, the bench did not hold back in its criticism, asking why it took until the night of the incident to file an FIR, despite the post-mortem being completed and the body handed over to the family. The court grilled the state government and hospital authorities, asking what they were doing during the critical hours after the crime was discovered. The bench was particularly upset that the victim’s parents had to wait for hours before being allowed to see their daughter's body.
The court also expressed its anger over the attack by hundreds of vandals on the government hospital and questioned the actions taken by the police during this time. The Supreme Court ordered the state government to submit a report on the steps taken against the attackers and stressed the need to protect the crime scene and maintain order. Additionally, it instructed the deployment of CISF forces at the hospital to ensure the safety of medical professionals and ordered the CBI to provide a status report on the investigation's progress.
The bench emphasized the need for a sensitive approach when dealing with peaceful protests related to the incident and warned against using excessive force. The court reiterated that protecting the crime scene and ensuring safety is the state government's responsibility, and adjourned the next hearing to August 22.
Principal's Actions Under Scrutiny
The Supreme Court also sharply criticized the former principal of RG Kar Medical College, Dr. Sandeep Ghosh, for his handling of the case. The court questioned why he initially tried to label the crime as a suicide and delayed filing an FIR. The bench expressed its dissatisfaction with the principal’s inaction during crucial moments and asked why he was immediately transferred to another college after resigning, suspecting that this might have been an attempt to shield him from the investigation.
Social Media Directive
The court issued a stern directive to remove the name, photos, and videos of the victim from all social media platforms, emphasizing that revealing the identity of a sexual assault victim violates the Supreme Court’s previous ruling in the Nipun Saxena case.
Appeal for Doctors to Resume Duties
The Supreme Court appealed to doctors protesting the incident to resume their duties, urging them to trust the judiciary to ensure justice and safety. The court highlighted the impact of their absence on public health and assured them that measures were being taken to protect their safety.
Concerns Over Safety in Hospitals
The bench also raised concerns about the unsafe working conditions in government hospitals across the country, noting that these issues exemplify systemic failures in protecting medical staff. The court emphasized that changes should not wait for another tragedy and proposed the creation of a national protocol for the safety of doctors and other healthcare workers. To this end, the court established a 10-member National Task Force (NTF) led by Vice Admiral Surgeon Arti Saran, directing it to submit an interim report within three weeks.
