Close X
Thursday, November 21, 2024
ADVT 
India

RG Kar rape and murder horror: SC declines to transfer trial outside West Bengal

Darpan News Desk IANS, 13 Nov, 2024 02:42 PM
  • RG Kar rape and murder horror: SC declines to transfer trial outside West Bengal

The Supreme Court on Thursday remarked that it would not pass any direction to transfer the trial of the ghastly rape and murder of a junior doctor of Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital outside West Bengal.

A bench, headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud, turned down the oral prayer made by a lawyer seeking transfer of rape and murder trial outside West Bengal.

"Yes, we have transferred cases (of gender violence) in Manipur. But we are not doing anything like that here," it remarked.

The Bench, also comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, pursued the 6th status report filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and said that it would refrain from making any observations since the investigation is underway.

The apex court noted that the trial will commence from November 11 at a special court in Kolkata after charges were framed against the "sole prime accused" in the case, Sanjay Roy.

The process of the framing of charges was completed on Monday, exactly 87 days after the body of the woman junior doctor was discovered at a seminar hall within the state-run R.G. Kar premises on the morning of August 9 this year.

Around a month ago, the CBI filed its first charge sheet against Roy, a civic volunteer with Kolkata Police, in the alleged rape and murder case.

In the charge sheet, the CBI did not rule out the possibilities of a larger conspiracy behind the macabre crime that prompted alleged events of tampering and altering of evidence during the initial phase of the investigation which was carried out by Kolkata Police.

Besides Roy, two others arrested by the CBI officials in the matter are RG Kar Medical College and Hospital's former Principal, Sandip Ghosh, and the former SHO of Tala Police Station, Abhijit Mondal. RG Kar comes under the jurisdiction of Tala Police Station.

The main charges against Ghosh and Mondal are for misleading the investigation when the Kolkata Police were probing the matter before it was handed over to CBI by the Calcutta High Court. Both have been accused of tampering with evidence in the case.

The top court asked the CBI to file a fresh status report before the next date of listing.

Further, it ordered that the report prepared by the National Task Force (NTF), set up by the Union government pursuant to its order in the aftermath of the R.G. Kar incident, be made available to Chief Secretaries of all state and Union Territories and other stakeholders, including the doctors’ associations.

The CJI-headed bench noted that the NTF has formulated recommendations in two categories, first, prevention of violence against medical professionals and providing safe working conditions, and, second, prevention of sexual violence against doctors.

"In order to enable this court to issue directions for compliance with the NTF recommendations, we consider it appropriate to direct that a copy of the report shall be made available to all the counsels appearing in the present batch of proceedings. The report shall also be supplied to the Chief Secretaries of all the states/UTs. In the event, any state/UT intends to make any submission with regard to the recommendations, a brief note of submissions may be filed through the standing counsel to the court master within a period of three weeks," it said.

In a hearing held last month, the SC had stressed that the NTF should complete its task within a reasonable timeframe.

"We are of the view that the Union government must take proactive measures to ensure that the work of the task force is completed within a reasonable period in the future. Accordingly, the meetings of the NTF shall be held at periodic intervals," it ordered, asking the NTF to apprise the top court about its tentative recommendations by the next date of listing.

"We will give three weeks to NTF to meet and complete all of its work," the SC told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.

The Supreme Court had ordered the formation of the NTF to suggest measures for the security of medical professionals across the country, observing that the safety of doctors is the "highest national concern".

Taking suo moto cognisance of the rape and murder case of a junior doctor at the state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, the SC had termed the incident "horrific," which raises the "systemic issue of safety of doctors across the country".

"We are deeply concerned about the fact that there is an absence of safe conditions of work for young doctors across the country, particularly, public hospitals," it had said.

 

MORE India ARTICLES

Punjab Finance Minister bats for cooperative federalism, structural reforms

Punjab Finance Minister bats for cooperative federalism, structural reforms
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on Tuesday stressed the importance of cooperative federalism and structural reforms by the Union government. Speaking at the opening session of Punjab Vision: 2047 conclave organized by the World Punjabi Organization here, Cheema said the nation can only achieve its development goals for 2047, “if all states progress together on the path of growth trajectory”.

Punjab Finance Minister bats for cooperative federalism, structural reforms

Canada-based gangster Dalla’s aide held in Punjab: DGP

Canada-based gangster Dalla’s aide held in Punjab: DGP
The development came less than 72 hours after the arrest of two shooters -- Anmolpreet Singh and Navjot Singh -- for their alleged involvement in the murder of Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau, alias Bhodi, who was also killed at the behest of terrorist Dalla on October 9.

Canada-based gangster Dalla’s aide held in Punjab: DGP

Rajasthan bypolls: Fate of 84 candidates to be decided tomorrow

Rajasthan bypolls: Fate of 84 candidates to be decided tomorrow
A triangular contest is being seen in Khivsar, Jhunjhunu, Deoli Uniara and Chorasi where independents and BTP candidates are given a fight to major parties like Congress and BJP. In Khivsar BJP has fielded Rewantram Danga who lost the last Assembly elections by merely two thousand votes to Hanuman Beniwal from RLP. Meanwhile, Kanika Beniwal, wife of Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal is contesting elections on the RLP ticket.

Rajasthan bypolls: Fate of 84 candidates to be decided tomorrow

'Over 35 mn Indian diaspora top priority of govt', says EAM Jaishankar on website launch for Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

'Over 35 mn Indian diaspora top priority of govt', says EAM Jaishankar on website launch for Pravasi Bharatiya Divas
The official website for the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention was jointly launched by External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar, along with Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who said that the government under the inspirational leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi accords the highest priority to the well-being of more than 35 million Indian diaspora.

'Over 35 mn Indian diaspora top priority of govt', says EAM Jaishankar on website launch for Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

PM Modi’s visit to Solapur: Women applaud ‘Double-Engine’ government’s initiatives

PM Modi’s visit to Solapur: Women applaud ‘Double-Engine’ government’s initiatives
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed a public gathering in Solapur, Maharashtra as part of the election campaign. During his speech, the PM praised the work and performance of the Maharashtra government. Lauding the government’s role in the development of the state, he stated that the BJP-led government in Maharashtra, along with its alliance partners, is working with the motto of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”.

PM Modi’s visit to Solapur: Women applaud ‘Double-Engine’ government’s initiatives

Plane named ‘Rahul Baba’ bound to crash, MahaYuti will come back to power: HM Amit Shah

Plane named ‘Rahul Baba’ bound to crash, MahaYuti will come back to power: HM Amit Shah
Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday claimed that the MahaYuti government will come back to power in Maharashtra after the Assembly elections but taunted that the plane named ‘Rahul Baba’, which has already crashed 20 times, is bound to crash 21st time.

Plane named ‘Rahul Baba’ bound to crash, MahaYuti will come back to power: HM Amit Shah