The Supreme Court will resume its hearing on Tuesday regarding the case of the rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata last month. The court had taken suo moto cognizance of the horrific incident.
A three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice D. Y. Chandrachud, will review the latest status report from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The CBI reported that it had arrested Abhijit Mondal, the former officer-in-charge of the Tala Police Station, under whose jurisdiction the medical college falls. Mondal was in charge when authorities discovered the junior doctor’s body in the seminar hall of the hospital on the morning of August 9.
Detained By The CBI
In addition, Sandip Ghosh, the former Principal of RG Kar Hospital, who was previously detained by the CBI in a separate case of financial irregularities, has also been implicated in the rape and murder case.
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During last week’s hearing, the Supreme Court directed the CBI to submit a fresh status report by September 17 and reviewed the previously filed report. “We have observed the progress of the ongoing investigation but will refrain from making any comments in open court at this time. We will allow a week for further updates on new leads,” stated the bench, which includes Justices J. B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.
Suo Moto Cognizance
The Supreme Court, having taken suo moto cognizance of the case, condemned the incident as “horrific” and highlighted it as indicative of systemic issues regarding the safety of doctors nationwide. The court emphasized its concern over the unsafe working conditions for young doctors, especially in public hospitals.
To address these concerns, the Supreme Court mandated the creation of a National Task Force (NTF) to recommend measures for improving the security of medical professionals across the country. The government has tasked the NTF with consulting various medical associations to formulate effective strategies for enhancing safety, working conditions, and overall well-being for doctors and medical staff.
