Kolkata: The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday deferred its hearing in the suo-motu case concerning the rape and murder of a female trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, rescheduling it for November.
The convict, Sanjay Roy, had been sentenced to life imprisonment till death on January 20. The brutal incident, which occurred on August 9 last year, had sparked nationwide outrage and prolonged protests in West Bengal.
Court Proceedings
A bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma adjourned the matter citing engagement with a part-heard case. Senior Advocate Karuna Nandy, representing the Association of Junior and Senior Doctors, highlighted that doctors participating in peaceful protests were being called for police interrogation and requested the court to schedule an early hearing.
Even after the primary conviction, the apex court continues to monitor ancillary issues, including the regularization of unauthorized absences of doctors.
Case Background
The postgraduate trainee doctor’s body was discovered in the hospital seminar room on August 9, 2024. Kolkata Police arrested Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, the following day.
Taking suo-motu notice, the Supreme Court had earlier constituted a National Task Force (NTF) on August 20, 2024, to formulate protocols ensuring the safety and security of medical professionals.
The NTF, in its report submitted later as part of the Central government’s affidavit, recommended that a separate central law was not required, as existing state laws sufficiently address both minor and serious offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.
The panel noted that 24 states already have laws to tackle violence against healthcare professionals, defining key terms like “health care institutions” and “medical professionals”.
Investigation
Initially handled by Kolkata Police, the investigation was later transferred to the CBI on August 13 after the Calcutta High Court expressed dissatisfaction over the initial probe. The Supreme Court assumed oversight of the matter on August 19, 2024.
