In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India announced on Monday that it will hear a suo motu case concerning the rape and murder of a resident doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The hearing is scheduled for October 1, amid heightened protests by the medical community in West Bengal.
The case, initially set for a hearing on September 27, was expedited to next week following an urgent request by a counsel representing one of the involved parties. Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice J.B. Pardiwala confirmed the rescheduling during the day’s proceedings, stating, “We will list it for hearing next Tuesday, that is October 1.”
The apex court’s decision to take up the case follows a disturbing status report from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on September 17, which the court described as unsettling but chose not to disclose details to avoid jeopardizing the ongoing investigation.
The justices have expressed significant concern over the CBI’s findings, particularly flagging issues with discrepancies in the seizure list and the sketch of the crime scene. “What the CBI has revealed in the report is really disturbing. We ourselves are concerned,” the court conveyed to the attorneys present.
In a related directive, the Supreme Court has urged protesting junior doctors across West Bengal to resume their duties, recording an assurance from the state government that no adverse or punitive actions will be taken against the demonstrators.
Additionally, the court has taken special note of a letter from the deceased doctor’s father, directing that his “valuable” insights be considered by the investigating officers. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, assured that the agency would maintain regular contact with the victim’s parents and keep them updated on the investigation’s progress.
The tragic case began with the discovery of the young medic’s body, showing severe injury marks, on August 9. A civic volunteer was swiftly apprehended by the Kolkata Police in relation to the murder. However, following public outcry and demands for a more thorough investigation, the Calcutta High Court transferred the case to the CBI on August 13, which officially began its probe the next day.
