Supreme Court takes suo motu cognizance of Kolkata rape-murder case
The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata. This decision was prompted by a letter from two Supreme Court lawyers, advocates Ujjawal Gaur and Rohit Pandey, who urged Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud to intervene due to the severity of the incident. The case is scheduled for hearing on Tuesday before a bench comprising CJI Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.
Doctor's body found in hospital seminar room
The body of the 31-year-old post-graduate trainee doctor was discovered in the seminar room of RG Kar Hospital on August 9. A civic volunteer was arrested by Kolkata Police the following day in connection with this case. Autopsy reports confirmed that she had been raped and strangled, with multiple injuries indicating a violent struggle.
CBI takes over investigation after High Court's intervention
On August 13, the Calcutta High Court ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the case due to dissatisfaction with Kolkata Police's handling of it. This decision was based on petitions filed by one of the victim's parents and other individuals. The high court bench, comprising Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya, expressed concerns about potential derailment of the investigation and destruction of evidence if left in current hands.
Surprising why the principal did not lodge: High court
"One more disturbing aspect is that a case of unnatural death was registered.. When the deceased was a doctor in the same hospital, it is surprising why the principal did not lodge a complaint," the bench said. "The administration was not with the victim or her family. The principal has not even given a statement. Without significant progress in the investigation, we would be well justified in accepting the prayers by the victim's parents that evidence would be destroyed."
Nationwide protests and withdrawal of medical services
The brutal crime has triggered nationwide outrage, leading to widespread protests. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) announced a 24-hour withdrawal of non-essential medical services across India, which ended on Sunday. Healthcare workers are demanding improved security measures in response to this incident. Additionally, both the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National Commission for Women (NCW) have initiated independent inquiries into the matter.
