The Supreme Court strongly criticized the West Bengal government and police over their actions in the aftermath of the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, persistently inquired about the “14-hour” delay in filing the FIR on August 9.
Observing that the local police recorded the general diary entry of the case at 10:10 am and registered the FIR at 11:45 pm, the court tried to understand the timing and sequence of the events that unfolded on August 9.
Judges asked if the post-mortem was over by 7:10 pm why then a case of unnatural death was filed at 11:30 pm when the cause of the death was already revealed. The court also couldn’t make sense how could the FIR then be registered in the next 15 minutes.
The state government, represented by senior counsel Kapil Sibal, informed the court that the complaint of “unnatural death” was noted in the GD at 1:30 pm.
Also read
- Governor calls Mamata Banerjee ‘Lady Macbeth’, says he will socially boycott her
- ‘I am ready to quit’, says Mamata Banerjee as standoff continues with protesting doctors
- Kolkata rape-murder: Why CBI is questioning Trinamool MLA Sudipto Roy
- CBI probe hints sale of organs from unidentified bodies thrived at R G Kar hospital: Report
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, informed the court that the general diary was recorded first, followed by the registration of an unnatural death case at 11:30 am. The FIR was then filed at 11:45 am.
The court questioned how the police could determine it was an unnatural death before conducting the post-mortem.
Justice Pardiwala made a scathing observation, saying in his 30-year-long career, he hadn’t seen an investigation such as this. Describing the entire process as “extremely disturbing,” the court ordered a senior official from Kolkata Police to be present at the next hearing.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court once again urged the medical community to resume their duties. However, protesting doctors at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital would continue with their strike.
The new administration at the hospital also took charge on Thursday with the aim to restore normalcy as soon as possible.
New principal Professor Dr. Manas Kumar Bandyopadhyay and Medical Superintendent-cum Vice Principal Professor Dr. Saptarshi Chatterjee, who were appointed on Wednesday, visited the institution on Thursday.
“We will meet the protesting students and address all their demands. Our primary target is to ensure the safety of all students, staff and patients and their families,” Chatterjee told the media.
He continued, “We are hopeful that things will become normal very soon and the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital will return to its past glory.”
The CISF, which has assumed security responsibilities of the hospital, also said all required arrangements are being put together.
CISF DIG K. Pratap Singh, who held a series of meetings with senior officials from Kolkata Police, West Bengal government and RG Kar Medical College and Hospital administration on Thursday, told the media, “We are making all arrangements to ensure safety and security of everyone.”
The CBI, on the other hand, produced ex-principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Dr. Sandip Ghosh before the local Sealdah (ACJM) Court.
The central agency appealed for the polygraph test of the former head of the administration of the institution along with four students and one close aide of the prime suspect, Sanjoy Ray, in the case.
The Supreme Court also urged the National Task Force to consider about “institutionalisation of distress call system”, “regulation of duty hours” of doctors and “constitution of a compensation distress fund”.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, meanwhile, wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She appealed for the setting up of “Fast Track Special Courts” for completion of trials in rape cases within 15 days.
West Bengal BJP’s march to Swasthya Bhawan, the headquarters of West Bengal health department, was stopped by the police much ahead of the destination. The police detained senior leaders like Suvendu Adhikari and others and released them later.
