Kolkata rape-murder case: SC takes suo motu cognisance of incident at RG Kar Medical College Hospital; hearing on August 20

 

Kolkata rape-murder case: SC takes suo motu cognisance of incident at RG Kar Medical College Hospital; hearing on August 20

The Supreme Court will take up the case of a doctor allegedly raped and murdered at RG Kar Hospital, Kolkata. The case, led by CJI DY Chandrachud, follows demands for justice and better safety measures from civil societies and medical professionals. Nationwide protests have erupted over the tragic incident.

Amid nationwide protests, Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the recent rape and murder of postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital. The matter will be taken up by a bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud on August 20, Tuesday.

A postgraduate trainee doctor on August 9 was allegedly raped and murdered on duty at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, which has led to nationwide strikes and civil societies and doctors across States protested against the incident and demanded severe punishment to the accused persons and sought safety and security for themselves.

Earlier on Thursday, two lawyers practicing in the Supreme Court on Thursday wrote a letter to the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud urging him to take auto moto cognizance of the tape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College. "The nation looks to the judiciary as the ultimate guardian of justice, the last refuge for those whose cries have been silenced by brutality. The victim in this case, a young doctor whose life was dedicated to serving others, deserves nothing less than the full measure of justice that our legal system can provide. Her death must not be in vain, it must galvanize us to act, to ensure that no other woman suffers such a fate," stated the letter.

It further stated that the time has come for the judiciary to send a clear and resounding message that such heinous crimes will not be tolerated, that the sanctity of life and the dignity of women must be fiercely protected by the full might of the law.

Govt Takes Step:

The Union Home Ministry has asked all state police forces to provide it situation reports every two hours in the wake of protests by doctors, nursing staff and others against the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. In a communication to the state police forces, the home ministry said that the law and order situation of all states should be monitored in view of the protests.

"Henceforth, a continuous two-hourly law and order situation report in this regard may kindly be sent to the MHA control room (New Delhi) by Fax/ Email/ WhatsApp from 1600 hours today," the communication sent on Friday said.

Doctors and other medical staff have been protesting in different parts of the country affecting the functioning of health facilities. They are pressing for a central law to check violence against healthcare personnel, declaring hospitals safe zones with mandatory security entitlements among other demands.