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Informist, Tuesday, Aug 13, 2024

 

NEW DELHI – The Calcutta High Court today transferred the probe regarding the rape and murder of a junior doctor at a state-run medical college in Kolkata to the Central Bureau of Investigation. The court was hearing multiple petitions, including by parents of the victim, seeking transfer of the probe to an independent agency. 

 

The Bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya noted the parent's apprehension that if the probe is allowed to continue in this manner, it will derail. The court said that a "disturbing aspect" was that a case of unnatural death was registered by the police. "It is submitted that such cases are registered when there is no complaint. When the deceased was a doctor in the same hospital, it is surprising why the principal did not lodge a complaint," said the court.

 

The court said that there was no significant progress in the investigation by the West Bengal police. "The administration was not with the victim or her family. The principal has not even given a statement. Without significant progress in the investigation, we would be well justified in accepting the prayers by the victim's parents that evidence would be destroyed. Therefore, we transfer the investigation to the CBI to do justice between parties and to inspire public confidence," said the court.

 

Chief Justice Sivagnanam said that the circumstances have shown that the public had agitated in large numbers. He noted the student's submission that several of them were assaulted by the Rapid Action Force. "The agitation has spread all over the country and these are relevant factors that should be borne in mind. The file shall be handed over to the CBI by 1000 IST tomorrow. All other relevant information shall also be handed over," said the court.

 

Further, the court also appealed to the protesting doctors to discuss with the state and consider calling off their agitation to help the public. "We are appreciative of the feelings of the doctors, particularly at RG kar medical college. However, we wish to observe that there is a pious obligation on them to treat patients who come to government facilities from humble backgrounds," said the court.

 

The court took note of the principal of the medical college, who had resigned on Monday, was immediately deputed to another institution in the city. "Instead of relieving him, he was appointed as head of another college. It is not clear what tearing hurry was there to appoint him again," said the court. It noted the principal's counsel's statement that he would proceed to go on compulsory leave. The court said that the principal should not be permitted to hold that post till further notice.

 

A 31-year-old junior doctor was found dead in a seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on Friday. Police had, thereafter, arrested a civic volunteer in connection with the case. There are protests and strikes by doctors in several cities in the entire country regarding the case. On Monday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said that if the state police were unable to solve the case by Sunday, it would be handed over to the CBI.

 

The petitioners today told the court that there was an attempt by the college administration to cover up the crime, as the parents were initially told that their daughter had died by suicide. There were allegations against the principal of the medical college that he tried to blame the victim and linked her death to psychosis.  End

 

Reported by Surya Tripathi

Edited by Deepshikha Bhardwaj

 

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