In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has shifted the ongoing proceedings concerning the horrific rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital to the Calcutta High Court. The apex court directed the High Court to oversee the implementation of its previous orders in this sensitive case.
Court Directs Transfer for Effective Oversight
A bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma issued the order on Wednesday. The bench mandated that all relevant case documents be transferred to the Calcutta High Court. It further requested the Chief Justice of the High Court to place the matter before an appropriate division bench for continued monitoring.
The Supreme Court also instructed that a copy of the latest status report be provided to the grieving parents of the victim. The top court had initially taken suo motu cognisance of the case in August 2024, responding to nationwide outrage over the brutal crime.
While the main criminal trial has concluded with a conviction, the bench observed that related ancillary issues could now be more effectively examined by a constitutional court within West Bengal.
Focus on Doctors' Safety and Administrative Reforms
During the proceedings, senior advocate Karuna Nundy, representing associations of junior and senior doctors from West Bengal, informed the court. She stated that the National Task Force (NTF), constituted to formulate recommendations for the safety and well-being of medical professionals, required only one more hearing to finalize its work.
The bench acknowledged that the case had raised several critical ancillary issues linked to doctors' working conditions and necessary administrative measures. It deemed the Calcutta High Court the suitable forum to oversee these matters moving forward.
Case Timeline and National Impact
The tragic incident dates back to August 9 last year, when the body of the young doctor was discovered in a seminar room at RG Kar Medical College. The crime triggered massive protests by doctors and civil society groups across West Bengal and India, highlighting demands for enhanced hospital security and expedited justice.
Kolkata Police arrested Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, the following day. Subsequently, a Kolkata trial court, on January 20, sentenced Roy to life imprisonment until death.
Despite the primary conviction, the Supreme Court continued to monitor connected issues, including the regularization of unauthorized absences for doctors who participated in the protests. The investigation, initially handled by Kolkata Police, was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 13 after the Calcutta High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the state probe. The Supreme Court formally assumed oversight on August 19, 2024.
In a related development, the National Task Force submitted its report in November last year as part of the Union government's affidavit. The panel concluded that a separate central law for offences against healthcare professionals was not necessary. It found that existing state laws and provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, were adequate to address both minor and serious offences. The task force also noted that 24 states have already enacted specific laws to tackle violence against healthcare workers.
