India’s Supreme Court on Tuesday (August 20) harshly criticized the West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, for delays in registering the FIR and for mishandling the crime scene in the rape and murder case of a doctor at R G Kar Medical College in Kolkata.
The court described the incident as “horrific” and “horrendous.”
A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud took suo motu cognizance of the August 9 incident, citing systemic issues regarding the safety of female doctors across India. The court emphasized that if women cannot work safely, it undermines their right to equality.
The bench, which also included Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, warned the West Bengal government against using its power to suppress protestors and called for a national reckoning, stating, “The nation cannot wait for another rape for things to change on the ground.”
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta pointed out the “complete failure of law and order” in West Bengal. He questioned how a mob of 7,000 people could enter R G Kar Hospital without the knowledge of Kolkata Police, particularly when doctors were protesting against the horrific crime.
The Supreme Court’s intervention in the case, titled *”In Re: Alleged Rape and Murder Incident of a Trainee Doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata and Related Issues,”* is significant as the Calcutta High Court had already transferred the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The nationwide doctors’ strike over the rape and murder, now in its second week, has severely impacted outpatient services across India, causing significant difficulties for patients. The protesting doctors are demanding that the CBI apprehend the culprits and that the court impose the maximum punishment. They also seek assurances from the government to prevent such incidents in the future.
The doctor’s body, bearing severe injury marks, was found in the seminar hall of the hospital’s chest department on August 9. A civic volunteer was arrested by Kolkata Police in connection with the case the following day.
On August 13, the Calcutta High Court ordered the transfer of the investigation from Kolkata Police to the CBI, which began its probe on August 14. The court’s decision came after hearing petitions, including one from the victim’s parents requesting a court-monitored investigation.
Meanwhile, protests by junior doctors continued nationwide on Monday, demanding justice and enhanced security measures. In response, the Union Health Ministry approved a 25 percent increase in security deployment at central government-run hospitals.
The CBI, now leading the investigation, has been granted permission by a court to conduct a polygraph test on the accused civic volunteer.
In Kolkata, the protests escalated as senior doctors Kunal Sarkar and Subarna Goswami, who had raised awareness about the incident on social media, led a march of hundreds of healthcare professionals from Calcutta Medical College to Kolkata Police headquarters.
