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Informist, Monday, Sept. 30, 2024

NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court Monday expressed dissatisfaction at the slow pace of installation of closed-circuit television cameras and construction of toilets and separate resting rooms for women at hospitals in West Bengal. Noting that no part of the work had achieved a completion rate of even 50%, a bench headed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud sought to know from the state government counsel why.

“Why is the progress so tardy," the bench demanded to know. "No areas are above 50%.“ The court was hearing a suo motu case relating to the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on Aug. 9. It also perused the latest update submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation on its probe into the crime. The agency has been looking into two aspects of the case--the doctor's rape and murder and financial irregularities at the hospital.

Senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the West Bengal government, told the court that 26% of the CCTV installation work has been completed, and the rest is likely to be done by Oct. 10. Counsel said there had been a delay due to floods in the state.

“The status report submitted by the state government indicated that the remaining work will be completed by Oct. 31, but the state counsel assured that the state government will make all endeavours to complete the work by Oct. 15,” the bench said. The remaining work includes the construction of separate toilets and resting rooms.

Dwivedi also told the court that resident doctors had returned to work only to provide emergency services. However, senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for the doctors, rejected the submission. The bench took on record Jaising’s submission that the doctors are performing all essential and emergency services.

The bench, which included Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra, also ordered that no picture of the victim shall be displayed on any social media platform. It passed the order after several advocates told the court that pictures and videos of the woman have proliferated across social media.

“The earlier order of Wikipedia shall be applicable to all social media intermediaries. Ensure that no picture, etc. of the victim of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital is displayed,” the bench said.

It also took on record a suggestion by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology should nominate a nodal officer to communicate the uploading of such information and get the intermediary to take down such posts. The bench also asked the ministry to consider laying down guidelines for such cases.

Counsel for the resident doctors told the court that several people who were investigated by the CBI are still employed at the hospital and sought their suspension until a final decision is made. “Prayers that they be suspended or be sent on leave will require examination by the State," the court said. "Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi states that if CBI shares material with State showing material against such persons, State shall act in accordance with service rules and regulations."  End

Reported by Kuldeep Singh

Edited by Rajeev Pai

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