The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed concerns over the recruitment of civic volunteers in West Bengal, labeling the process as a potential means of “political patronage.” The court has demanded detailed information from the state government regarding the recruitment process, including the legal basis for appointments, the criteria for selection, and the duties assigned to these volunteers.
During the hearing of a suo motu case concerning the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, alongside Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, highlighted the urgent need for transparency and accountability in the recruitment of civic volunteers, particularly in sensitive environments like hospitals and schools.
The inquiry was intensified following revelations that Sanjay Roy, the main accused in the Kolkata doctor murder case, was a civic police volunteer with unrestricted access to hospital premises. Senior advocate Karuna Nundy, representing a doctors’ association, argued that the state’s decision to double the number of civic volunteers contravened a Calcutta High Court order prohibiting them from performing any law enforcement roles.
Advocate Vrinda Grover, representing the victim’s family, pointed out the serious lapse in oversight which allowed the recruitment of individuals with criminal backgrounds into positions of authority and access within critical public service areas.
The bench was rigorous in its scrutiny, questioning the methods of recruitment and the nature of the roles assigned to these volunteers. “Who recruits these civic volunteers? We need to know what these qualifications are. We need to ensure that such volunteers do not operate in hospitals, schools that are sensitive in nature…Otherwise, this is a nice process of conferring political patronage on people who are totally unverified,” the court stated.
Additionally, the court reviewed the broader security measures being implemented in the state, including the installation of CCTV cameras and the employment of security personnel under the Private Security Agencies (Regulation) Act 2005. The West Bengal government, represented by senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, assured that new security staff recruitments at hospitals were adhering to national regulations.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, updated the court on the ongoing investigation into the murder case, noting the seriousness with which the probe was being conducted. The court ordered a further status report to be submitted within three weeks.
The Supreme Court also addressed the issue of the National Task Force (NTF), formed to enhance the safety and security of medical professionals, criticizing the lack of progress and meetings since early September. The court directed the Centre to ensure the task force’s recommendations are finalized promptly.
