Here are the live updates from the Supreme Court hearing on the RG Kar rape and murder case, being presided over by a Bench consisting of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra:
Key Points from the Hearing:
- 12:09 PM: Justice Pardiwala raised questions regarding the timing of the post-mortem, asking if it was considered an unnatural death before the procedure. There seems to be a discrepancy between the post-mortem timing and the registration of the unnatural death case, which needs reconciliation.
- 12:07 PM: CJI Chandrachud expressed concern over the early identification of the case as unnatural death, questioning why the crime scene demarcation happened much later.
- 12:03 PM: Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta mentioned that the first FIR was registered post-cremation and highlighted suspicions raised by friends of the deceased doctor, leading to videography.
- 12:01 PM: The CJI asked for the medical examination report of the accused, which had not been supplied to the SG, though it was submitted in the case diary.
- 11:47 AM: The Bench reviewed the status reports submitted by the CBI and the West Bengal government, discussing the handling and timelines.
- 11:42 AM: Concerns were raised by representatives of doctors about institutional compromises, including financial irregularities at RG Kar Medical College, and issues like the non-implementation of CCTV cameras.
- 11:38 AM: CJI discussed the challenges faced by junior doctors, including harassment and the heavy workload of 36-hour shifts, which might affect their ability to resist harassment.
- 11:26 AM: The Court emphasized the importance of a broad-based National Task Force that would include inputs from all stakeholders, including junior doctors, to address safety and working conditions.
- 11:21 AM: The Court urged doctors, who were penalized for participating in protests, to resume work and assured them that no adverse actions would be taken if they returned to duty.
- 11:12 AM: The Bench started with the hearing of various mentions before focusing on the RG Kar case.
Background:
The Supreme Court is hearing this case on a suo motu basis, addressing the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old resident doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The incident, which took place on August 9, has caused widespread outrage and protests across the country, especially among medical professionals. The investigation has been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the Supreme Court is overseeing the progress.
Court’s Previous Directives:
- Establishment of a National Task Force to ensure the safety and dignity of medical professionals.
- CISF security at RG Kar Medical College.
- Status reports from CBI and the West Bengal government on their respective investigations.
The hearing continues with the Bench closely scrutinizing the submitted reports and discussing measures to ensure the safety and well-being of doctors across India.