The Calcutta High Court on Friday sanctioned a week-long sit-in demonstration by the Joint Forum of Doctors, advocating for swift justice for the medic from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital who was tragically raped and murdered in August. The court stipulated that the protest, scheduled from December 20 to 26, be conducted 50 feet away from the Dorina Crossing at Esplanade, a central and bustling area of Kolkata, to mitigate traffic disruptions.
Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, who presided over the hearing, acknowledged the critical location originally proposed by the doctors’ organization but ruled out the immediate vicinity of Dorina Crossing to avoid major traffic snarls. The demonstration’s permissible dimensions were set with a stage not exceeding 40 feet in length and 23 feet in width, and participant numbers capped at 250 at any given time.
The state government’s counsel raised concerns about potential traffic congestion due to the protest’s location, prompting the court’s redirection. Justice Ghosh also called for the administration to ensure adequate measures are in place to prevent any untoward incidents and barred any inciting speeches during the event that might escalate into law and order issues.
A compliance report regarding the sit-in is due to be submitted to the court by the police by January 13. This judicial decision comes after the disturbing events of August 9, when the victim, a postgraduate trainee, was found deceased in the college’s seminar room. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has since charged Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer associated with local police, with her rape and murder, alleging he attacked her while she rested during a break.
