The Supreme Court on Monday directed the CBI to file a fresh status report on the investigation into the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital. This came after the CBI submitted an initial report indicating it had leads in the probe.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said, "The status report has been filed by CBI, it appears that investigation is in progress. We direct the CBI to file a fresh status report... we will take it up on Tuesday... CBI is doing it, we don't want to guide CBI on its investigation."
The court also sought clarification on the timing of the unnatural death report in the rape and murder case of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital, following the submission of a status report by the CBI.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal informed the bench that the death certificate was issued at 1:47 p.m., while the police registered the entry of unnatural death at 2:55 p.m.
However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta countered, stating that according to records, the report was filed at 11:30 p.m.
At the outset of the hearing, the CBI submitted its status report on the investigation to the bench. The judges reviewed the status report handed to them in a sealed envelope.
Sibal also informed the court that 23 people had died because doctors were on strike, and the state health department submitted a report on the same.
The case was initiated by the Supreme Court on its own, and a three-judge bench comprising the Chief Justice and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra is hearing the matter.
The Supreme Court, during a hearing on August 20, termed the incident "horrific" and issued a set of directions, including the establishment of a 10-member National Task Force to formulate a protocol for ensuring the safety and security of doctors and other healthcare professionals.
A 31-year-old trainee doctor was raped and killed inside the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata on August 9. A civil volunteer was arrested for the crime, and the incident has sparked nationwide protests, which are still ongoing.
On August 22, the court reprimanded the Kolkata Police for the delay in registering the unnatural death case. The court also appealed to the protesting doctors to return to work, stating that "justice and medicine" cannot be halted.
The investigation of the case has been transferred from the Kolkata Police to the CBI on the direction of the Calcutta High Court.
The central government, On September 3, approached the Supreme Court, alleging that inadequate arrangements were made for the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel deployed at RG Kar Hospital, calling it an "unpardonable" act of non-cooperation by the Mamata Banerjee government.
The Centre sought a direction from the top court to instruct state authorities to fully cooperate with the CISF and urged the initiation of contempt proceedings against state government officials for "willful non-compliance" if the order is not followed.
Meanwhile, thousands hit the streets in Kolkata on Sunday night, demanding justice for the RG Kar doctor. Protesters, both women and men, young and old, took to the streets, forming human chains, writing graffiti on the roads, holding burning torches, and singing the national anthem, as many waved the tricolour.
