SC Spurns To Transfer Kolkata Rape-Murder Case Trial Outside West Bengal

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

A bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud affirmed that the trial court judge possesses sufficient authority to order additional investigations if deemed necessary after reviewing the evidence.

The court examined the sixth status report submitted by the CBI regarding the case, which involves the tragic incident at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

However, the Supreme Court refrained from commenting on the report, emphasizing that the investigation remains ongoing.

During the proceedings, the court noted that a Kolkata court had formally charged the prime accused, Sanjay Roy, on November 4, with the trial scheduled to commence on November 11.

Additionally, the National Task Force (NTF), established to develop safety protocols for health professionals, presented its report to the Supreme Court. The court directed that this report be disseminated to all states and union territories, scheduling the next hearing for four weeks later.

Earlier, on October 15, the Supreme Court questioned the West Bengal government regarding the hiring practices for civic volunteers, requesting data on their recruitment and appointment processes.

The court expressed dissatisfaction on September 30 with the state’s slow progress in implementing safety measures, such as installing CCTVs and constructing toilets and rest areas in government medical colleges, demanding completion by October 15.

On September 17, the Supreme Court voiced concern over the CBI’s status report findings, choosing not to disclose details to avoid jeopardizing the investigation.

The court had previously requested a report from the state government regarding the absence of a “challan,” a crucial document related to the doctor’s postmortem, from the records presented.

The court had also criticized the Kolkata police on August 22 for delays in registering the case concerning the unnatural death of the doctor, describing the situation as “extremely disturbing.” It condemned the sequence of events that allowed a large crowd to vandalize the state-run facility following the incident.

The death of the doctor, marked by visible injuries, ignited widespread protests, leading to the initial arrest of a civic volunteer just one day after the crime.

Following public outcry, the Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation from the Kolkata police to the CBI on August 13, allowing for a more thorough examination of the circumstances surrounding this horrific case.

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