After taking suo motu cognizance of the incident of brutal rape and murder of a female trainee doctor on duty at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, the Supreme Court today heard the case. During this, the country’s top court asked many tough questions to the hospital administration, the West Bengal government and the Kolkata police and also reprimanded them.
At the same time, the Supreme Court has summoned a status report from the CBI in the case. A status report has been sought from the CBI by Thursday. Along with this, the Supreme Court has expressed deep concern over the safety of doctors and medical staff across the country and directed the formation of a ‘National Task Force’. This ‘National Task Force’ will recommend to the Supreme Court the measures and methods to be adopted for the safety of doctors and medical staff across the country.
We are concerned about the safety of doctors- CJI
While hearing the Kolkata woman doctor case, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud said that we are deeply disturbed by what has happened in Kolkata. The brutality of rape and murder in the case has shaken our conscience. The CJI said that the Kolkata incident has raised safety issues for doctors across the country. We are extremely concerned about the safety of doctors (especially young doctors) and we will take important steps to ensure their safety. The CJI said that most young doctors work 36 hours, we will need to develop national protocols to ensure safe working conditions for them.
This is a matter of national interest, we will monitor the entire matter ourselves
The CJI further said that the safety of doctors and medical personnel is a matter of national interest and therefore we will personally monitor the entire matter. All doctors and medical personnel should trust the Supreme Court. At the same time, the country’s top judge urged the doctors who went on strike in the country to please return to work. Because in the last few days, many patients across the country are facing problems in treatment. Their lives are in danger.
We cannot wait for another such rape case
At the same time, the CJI remarked that in today’s time more and more women are joining the workforce, so the country cannot wait for another such rape case. The CJI said that the existing Acts do not address the institutional safety standards for doctors and medical personnel. We have to bring about change at the ground level. The CJI said that if women are not able to go to work and their working conditions are not safe, then we are depriving them of equality.
Why the delay in filing an FIR for murder?
Chief Justice (CJI) DY Chandrachud questioned the hospital administration, West Bengal government and Kolkata Police in the Kolkata rape-murder case, why was there a delay in filing an FIR for murder? Also, why was the crime scene not secured? The CJI said that it seems that the FIR was not registered even after the crime was discovered.
The CJI reprimanded the Kolkata Police and the West Bengal government for the delay in filing the FIR and asked what the officials were doing about the case. What was the hospital administration doing? The CJI also questioned the principal of the medical college that he tried to present it as a suicide and the parents were not allowed to see the body. Along with this, the CJI asked that when the conduct of the principal of RG Kar Hospital was being investigated, how was he immediately appointed to another college?
How did the crowd enter the hospital?
After the incident, Chief Justice (CJI) DY Chandrachud also raised the issue of a crowd of 7,000 people entering the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and vandalising it and reprimanded the government and Kolkata Police for this too. The CJI asked the Kolkata Police that how did a crowd of thousands of people enter the hospital where a serious crime had taken place and vandalise it?
The CJI said that while the rape-murder incident in the hospital is a ‘systematic failure’, the entry of the crowd into the hospital is also a failure of the system. SG Tushar Mehta, appearing on behalf of the CBI, said that a crowd of 7,000 people could not have entered the hospital without the knowledge of the Kolkata Police. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that West Bengal should not deny that law and order has completely failed in the state.
The government should not use force on people protesting peacefully
The CJI has also said that the West Bengal government should not use force on people who are peacefully protesting against the incident. This is the time for purification at the national level. At the same time, the CJI said that the West Bengal government should ensure that the miscreants who attacked the RG Kar Hospital are arrested and an FIR is registered against them.
How were Kolkata victim’s name, photo circulated?
CJI has expressed displeasure over the publication of Kolkata victim’s name and photo. CJI said that the name, photo and video of the victim doctor are viral on social media. How did this happen? CJI said that we are very concerned about the fact that the name, photo and video clip of the Kolkata victim were published everywhere. Whereas the law prohibits publishing the names of victims. Is this how we honour the young doctor who lost her life?
