The Supreme Court resumed hearing in the suo motu case taken in connection with the Kolkata trainee doctor rape and murder case and questioned the timeline of events presented by the state police in the case diary.
A bench comprising Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra questioned the timeline of the probe presented by Kolkata police and asked whether a case of unnatural death was registered after post-mortem. Following a delay from the state counsel Kapil Sibal in clarifying the timeline of events, the bench asked the state to ensure the presence of a responsible police officer during the hearing.
Referring to the timeline, the bench asked whether a case of unnatural death was registered after post-mortem was done. “This is very surprising, post mortem precedes registration of the UD!” expressed Justice Pardiwala, Live Law reported.
“The entire procedure followed by your State is something which I have not come across in the 30 years of my career,” Justice Pardiwala observed. The bench also said the conduct of superintendent (non-medical) was doubtful.
The bench directed the state to present a proper timeline when hearing resume post lunch. It also directed the protesting doctors to resume work and said a general order would be passed, directing administrations not to take any action against them. The bench said the National Task Force constituted by it will hear the concerns of resident doctors and sought a list of associations from the counsel.
Hearing the suo motu case on Tuesday, the bench came down heavily on the state government and directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to submit a status report on Thursday. The bench had also directed the CISF to take over security at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The apex court also formed the National Task Force to suggest an action plan for doctors’ safety and to ensure better working conditions for medical professionals.
The trainee doctor's body with severe injury marks was found inside the seminar hall of the hospital's chest department on August 9. A civic volunteer was arrested by the Kolkata Police the following day for his alleged involvement in the incident. Thousands have been protesting against the police apathy and the state government's handling of the probe.
