Supreme Court refuses to transfer Kolkata rape-murder case hearing out of Bengal

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to transfer the rape and murder case of a doctor in Kolkata outside West Bengal.

The bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said that the trial court judge had sufficient authority to order another inquiry if he deemed it necessary after examining the evidence.

The top court also examined the sixth status report submitted by the CBI in the rape and murder case at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, but refrained from making observations, saying the investigation was ongoing.

The high court stated that the Kolkata court had framed charges against the prime accused Sanjay Roy on November 4 and the daily hearing of the case will begin from November 11.

At the hearing, the National Task Force (NTF), which was formed to create a protocol on the safety of healthcare workers, presented its report to the upper court.

The apex court directed that the NTF’s report be shared with all states and union territories and released the hearing four weeks later.

The apex court on October 15 questioned the West Bengal Government on the recruitment of civilian volunteers in the state and sought data on their recruitment and appointment processes.

On September 30, the high court expressed displeasure over the state’s “delayed” progress in installing CCTVs and building toilets, apart from separate recreation rooms, in medical colleges and ordered their completion by October 15.

On September 17, the high court expressed regret over the findings in the CBI status report in the case, refusing to disclose details and observing that any disclosure could jeopardize the ongoing investigation.

Earlier on September 9, the high court expressed concern over the absence of ‘challan’ (an important document forwarding the doctor’s body for post-mortem) in the records placed before it and sought a report from the state government.

On August 22, the high court suspended the Kolkata police for the delay in registering the case of unnatural death of the deceased, terming it “extremely disturbing” but did not take kindly to the sequence of events and timing of procedural formalities.

The apex court had constituted a 10-member NTF to formulate a protocol to ensure the safety and security of doctors and other healthcare workers.

Terming the incident “horrific”, the high court slammed the state government for allegedly delaying in lodging an FIR and allowing a mob of thousands to vandalize the state-run facility.

The death of the doctor, whose fatal remains contained traces of injuries, had sparked protests across the country and initial investigation had led to the arrest of a civilian volunteer by the Calcutta police the next day of the crime.

On August 13, the Calcutta High Court ordered the transfer of the investigation from the Kolkata police to the CBI, which started its investigation on August 14.