Deploy CISF at RG Kar: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court today came down heavily on the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital authorities and the Bengal government over the rape-and-murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor on the night of August 9 and the violence during the public protest at the hospital on the night of August 14.
Unusually, the Supreme Court is hearing a suo motu case despite an ongoing probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra strongly criticised the Bengal government for the delay in filing an FIR in the horrific rape-and-murder case, which happened on the night of August 9, and ordered the establishment of a National Task Force to investigate the safety of healthcare staff in hospitals.
As for RG Kar’s security, the apex court ordered the immediate deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) at the hospital premises.
The CJI pointed out that while the autopsy was conducted between 1 pm and 4.45 pm of the day (August 10) and the body was handed over to the parents at about 8.30 pm for cremation, the FIR was registered only at 11.45 pm.
Besides the delay in the FIR, the court also questioned the state over the conduct of the principal of the medical college, a state government institution (including attempting to pass off the murder as suicide), and the vandalism during a peaceful public protest on the night of August 14.
On August 13, the Calcutta High Court, dissatisfied with the investigation of Kolkata Police, transferred the case to the CBI.
The Supreme Court’s direction for CISF deployment came after hearing suggestions about enhancing the hospital’s security from several organisations representing doctors and medical consultants.
As per their presentations before the bench, out of the approximately 700 resident doctors at RG Kar, only 60-70 male doctors and 30-40 female doctors remain in the hostels.
