Doctor Rape-Murder: Calcutta HC Adjourns Hearing on PILs till Sept 4

The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday adjourned until September 4 the joint hearing of several PILs concerning the alleged rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, as well as the vandalism by miscreants at the institution. The adjournment was made in light of the fact that the Supreme Court is already handling the matter.

Amid growing nationwide protests over the rape and murder of the trainee doctor at the hospital, the Supreme Court on Tuesday established a 10-member National Task Force (NTF) to develop a protocol for ensuring the safety and security of doctors and other healthcare professionals.

The Supreme Court also directed the CBI and the West Bengal government to submit status reports on August 22 regarding the progress of their respective investigations into the alleged rape and murder of the woman postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, and the August 15 vandalism and violence at the institution.

A division bench of Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, stated that since the Supreme Court’s orders encompassed all the issues currently before the high court, it was postponing the hearing of the 14 PILs related to the incidents at the state-run hospital in Kolkata until September 4.

The bench reiterated its request for everyone to refrain from disclosing the identity of the victim. This reminder followed a lawyer’s observation that, despite the court’s previous order on August 13, the name and photograph of the woman doctor were still being circulated on social media.

On August 13, the high court had ordered the transfer of the investigation into the alleged rape and murder of the woman postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital from the Kolkata Police to the CBI.