The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought details from the West Bengal government on the recruitment process of civic volunteers in police force.
A bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was hearing a suo motu case of RG Kar rape-murder, in which the accused, Sanjay Roy, is a civic volunteer associated with Kolkata Police.
The court observed that Roy, in that capacity, had unrestricted access to the hospital premises where he allegedly raped and murdered a junior doctor on August 9.
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The apex court directed the government to furnish details on the legal source of authority for recruitment of civic volunteers in the state and the modalities and qualification for such recruitment.
The bench also sought details on the verification processes and the institutions in which they are assigned duties and their payments.
The government has been directed to "specifically disclose the process which is followed to recruit the civic volunteers and the steps taken to ensure that such volunteers do not operate in any event where sensitive establishments such as hospitals and schools which may be particularly vulnerable", reported the Live Law.
The government should also disclose data on number of civic volunteers involved in police stations and investigation of crime.
Hunger strike enters 11th day
Meanwhile, the indefinite hunger strike by the junior doctors in Kolkata in the wake of the RG Kar rape-murder incident entered the 11th day on Tuesday as a meeting between medics and the state government failed to resolve the deadlock.
The doctors began their hunger strike on October 5, demanding justice for the RG Kar victim, immediate removal of Health Secretary N.S. Nigam, and improved workplace security. They also demand a centralised hospital referral system, a bed vacancy monitoring system, and essential infrastructure like on-call rooms, CCTV, and proper washrooms.
