Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder Case: Supreme Court Says ‘No Case Like This in 30 Years’

New Delhi : The Supreme Court is set to continue hearing pleas related to the horrific rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is expected to submit its status report on the investigation to the court. Acting on the Supreme Court’s directive from August 20, the CBI will present the investigation report in a sealed cover to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.

The Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognizance of the case and instructed the CBI to provide a detailed status report on its investigation by August 22. The court’s directive also included examining the mob vandalism that occurred at the hospital, which was the crime scene, during what was supposed to be a peaceful protest.

The Supreme Court has been highly critical of the West Bengal government for its handling of the case, particularly its failure to maintain law and order during the protests. The court demanded a report from the state government detailing how the mob was able to breach hospital security and disrupt the investigation process.

In the midst of the ongoing investigation, the CBI has intensively questioned former RG Kar Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh for the sixth consecutive day, seeking to uncover more details about the case.

As nationwide protests continue, the Supreme Court has responded by establishing a national task force to address the broader issue of ensuring the safety of medical professionals, particularly women. This task force is expected to work closely with doctors’ organizations, which have been actively striking in response to the incident. The organizations have expressed their willingness to cooperate with the task force and have called for a central law to protect medical professionals.

The task force has been instructed to submit an interim report within three weeks and a final report within two months. The Supreme Court’s involvement and the formation of the task force underscore the seriousness of the case and the urgent need for reforms to ensure the safety and protection of healthcare workers across the country.