On Sunday (18th August), the Supreme Court of India took suo motu cognisance of the rape and murder case of the 31-year-old female trainee doctor that took place at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra will hear all matters related to the case on Tuesday (20th August).
Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the rape and murder of a doctor in RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra will hear the case on August 20. pic.twitter.com/XWwMUd9FSc
— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2024
The schedule of hearings published by the Supreme Court on its website states that the “Alleged rape and murder incident of a trainee doctor in R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata and related issues” has been listed for hearing on 20 August by the court’s motion. The matter will be taken up after the hearing in the special bench listed at the court for 10.30 AM on that day is over, says the supplementary miscellaneous listing published by the top court.
The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata. A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud will hear the matter on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/4QrfXrkn1x
— IANS (@ians_india) August 18, 2024
The horrifying case, which took place in the early hours of 9th August, has sparked nationwide outrage similar to the ones that were witnessed during the 2012 Nirbhaya case. It has led to widespread protests across India and the world. Medical professionals have been on strikes across the country expressing concerns over the safety of doctors, nurses, and medical staff, particularly females.
The West Bengal government led by Mamata Banerjee has been facing mounting public pressure and criticism over its handling of the case and allegations of mishandling by the state authorities. The Calcutta High Court had already transferred the main rape and murder case to the Central Bureau of Investigation after making scathing observations against the Police and the state government.
On the 9th of August morning, the semi-nude body of the PG trainee doctor was found inside the seminar hall of Kolkata’s government-run hospital. While the administration had initially told the victim’s parents that it was a case of suicide, a day later, the autopsy report confirmed that she was raped before the murder. The four-page report stated that she had been strangled and that “perverted sexuality” and “genital torture” had resulted in a serious wound in her private parts. It also revealed the graphic details of the injuries inflicted on the deceased body.
Later, the Kolkata Police arrested a civic volunteer, Sanjay Roy, who was stationed at the hospital in connection with the crime.
In the meantime, the victim’s family and protestors said that the crime was gang rape, and demanded a thorough investigation to ensure all culprits are brought to justice.
While the doctors and medical fraternity have continued their protests for more than a week now, on Wednesday night (14th August), thousands of women across the country took to the streets, demanding justice for the victim as they participated in “Reclaim The Night” marches in Kolkata and across other parts of the state.
However, while the peaceful protests swelled throughout the country, a large motivated mob laid siege at R G Kar Hospital in Kolkata, the place of occurrence of the heinous crime. They carried out large-scale vandalism and attacked protesting doctors who have been demanding Justice for the rape and murder of a female trainee doctor.
While referring to the vandalism incident at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital on Wednesday night (14th August), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee blamed opposition parties – Vam (Left/CPIM) and Ram (reference for BJP) for creating unrest in the state. However, the major arrests in the hospital vandalism incident point otherwise as some of the accused arrested in that incident, are reportedly linked with the ruling state party, Trinamool Congress.
Later, on Friday, the Calcutta High Court again came down heavily on the West Bengal government over the RG Kar Medical College Hospital rape and murder incident and transferred the case of vandalism in the hospital to the CBI. The court had already handed over the probe into the rape and murder of the trainee doctor to the central probe agency.
