R G Kar rape-murder case: SC adjourns hearing to Jan 29

New Delhi, Jan 22 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned the suo motu hearing of the case, concerning the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medcial College and Hospital in Kolkata, to January 29.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Justice Sanjay Kumar, and Justice KV Viswanathan was hearing the case, which originated from the August 9 incident.

The victim, a postgraduate trainee doctor, was found murdered in the hospital’s seminar room.

During the proceedings, CJI Khanna, citing the limited time available, stated, “I got the list in the morning. I think you filed three applications (to Senior Advocate Karuna Nandy)—one for additional documents, one for directions, and other things. Give a copy to the other side. We will take it up at 2 PM on next Wednesday.”

The CJI also explained the prioritization of cases, saying, “We normally don’t cross 20 (matters). We read the first 20, and the matters freshly listed.” This case was listed as item 42 on the supplementary list, which typically starts at item 43.

On January 20, a Kolkata sessions court sentenced the prime accused, Sanjoy Roy, to life imprisonment under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 64 (rape), 66 (causing injury resulting in death), and 103(1) (murder). Roy was convicted on January 18.

The Calcutta High Court had previously handed over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 13, citing dissatisfaction with the Kolkata Police’s inquiry.

The Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of the case on August 19. By October, the CBI filed a chargesheet against Roy, who had been arrested by the Kolkata Police.

The Court noted that the National Task Force (NTF), constituted to recommend measures to enhance security for healthcare professionals, had submitted its report. States and Union Territories have been asked to respond to these recommendations. The NTF was given 12 weeks to finalize its report.

AIIMS was directed to consider a plea from certain doctors requesting that their protest period not be treated as abstention from duty, in line with prior relief granted by the Supreme Court.

Senior Advocate Karuna Nandy, appearing for the Association of Junior and Senior Doctors, mentioned the matter, emphasizing its urgency.

The RG Kar rape-murder case was taken up by the Supreme Court due to critical issues regarding safety for healthcare professionals and accountability in institutional security.

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