Medics Win First Round

It is not every day that the Supreme Court, especially the bench of the Chief Justice of India, finds itself “disturbed” by a status report filed by an investigating agency. But the rape-and-murder case of a junior doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital (RGKMCH) in Kolkata moved even CJI D.Y. Chandrachud into imagining the worst. While hearing the matter on September 17, he said: “What the CBI has revealed in the report is worse, really disturbing...we ourselves are concerned.”

- Arkamoy Datta Majumdar

Chandrachud said the CBI is probing if the crime scene has been tampered with, whether evidence was destroyed, whether there was complicity of other people in the crime as well as financial irregularities at RGKMCH. The CJI said that the investigating agency must be given more time to “unearth the absolute truth”. The overall optics has brought no redeeming touch for the state government yet. The court rebuked it even for suggesting limited work hours for women and limiting night duties for them “to the extent possible”. “They (women) don’t want a concession... women are ready to work at exactly the same time shift,” the CJI observed. Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for West Bengal, agreed to do away with these suggestions. Indira Jaising, the counsel for the striking doctors—who are now leading the movement for justice for the victim-kept the pressure up by saying the doctors can resume work only if assured proper security. The state duly submitted to the SC its detailed plan to ensure the safety of doctors.