Supreme Court Transfers RG Kar Medical College Case to Calcutta High Court
Case Overview and Supreme Court Directives
New Delhi: On Wednesday, the Supreme Court decided to transfer the RG Kar Medical College trainee doctor rape and murder case to the Calcutta High Court. This move aims to ensure effective monitoring of the case’s implementation orders. A bench consisting of Justices M M Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma instructed that all case documents be forwarded to the high court. The apex court had previously taken suo motu cognizance of the case in 2024 and mandated that a copy of the status report be shared with the victim’s parents.
Representation by Legal Counsel
Senior advocate Karuna Nundy, representing both junior and senior doctors, highlighted that the Supreme Court had established a National Task Force (NTF) in recognition of the need to create a national consensus on this matter. Nundy stated, “I am representing the doctors of West Bengal. NTF was constituted to formulate effective recommendations to remedy the issues pertaining to safety and well-being of medical professionals. Only one hearing is required to wrap this matter,” as reported by news agency PTI.
Clarifications from the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court expressed that the case could be reviewed by a constitutional court in West Bengal. The bench remarked, “We deem it appropriate to send the proceedings to the division bench of the Calcutta High Court with a request to the chief justice to place the matter before an appropriate bench.”
Background of the Case
Details of the Crime
The body of the postgraduate trainee doctor was discovered in the seminar room of the hospital on August 9 of the previous year. The Kolkata police apprehended Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, the following day. On January 20, a Kolkata trial court sentenced Roy to “life term imprisonment till death” for his involvement in the case. This disturbing crime ignited widespread outrage and led to extensive protests across West Bengal.
Ongoing Monitoring by the Supreme Court
Despite the primary conviction, the Supreme Court continues to oversee several related issues, including the regularization of doctors’ unauthorized absences. The NTF’s report, submitted as part of the Central government’s affidavit last November, concluded that a separate central law to address crimes against healthcare professionals was unnecessary. It noted that state laws adequately covered both minor and serious offenses under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
NTF Recommendations and Legislative Context
The NTF highlighted that 24 states have enacted laws addressing violence against healthcare professionals, clearly defining terms such as “health care institutions” and “medical professionals,” according to PTI. Initially, the Kolkata police handled the investigation, but the case was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 13 after the Calcutta High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the police’s inquiry. The Supreme Court took over the oversight of the case on August 19, 2024.
Related Developments
Postponement of Hearing
Additionally, the Supreme Court has postponed further hearings in the RG Kar doctor case, indicating ongoing developments in the judicial process.