The Supreme Court, hearing the Kolkata rape-murder incident today, said the nation cannot wait for another rape for changes on the ground. The DY Chandrachud-led bench also expressed strong dissatisfaction with the West Bengal government and the authorities at the hospital over the delay in filing the FIR and other procedural lapses in handling the case.

“Medical professions have become vulnerable to violence. Due to ingrained patriarchal biases, women doctors are targeted more. As more and more women join the workforce, the nation cannot wait for another rape for things to change on the ground,” CJI Chandrachud noted. 

READ | Supreme Court Sets Up National Task Force Of Doctors On Hospital Safety

During the hearing, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud raised several pressing questions regarding the actions of the hospital’s administration and the local police.

“Why was FIR registered three hours after the body was handed over for cremation,” the Supreme Court bench asked. 

‘What Was Principal Doing?’

The Supreme Court, on its own, took up the investigation into the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old post-graduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. The incident has triggered widespread protests across the country and raised questions over women’s safety, particularly in medical colleges.

The three-judge bench is led by CJI Chandrachud and comprises Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. 

“What was the principal doing? FIR was not filed; the body was handed late to the parents. What is the police doing? A serious offence has taken place, the crime scene is in a hospital… What are they doing? Allowing vandals to enter the hospital?” CJI Chandrachud asked. 

Sandip Ghosh, who resigned as the principal of RG Kar Medical College just two days after the incident, has been under scrutiny by the CBI and questioned for nearly 53 hours over the past four days regarding his actions following the doctor’s death. 

In response to the bench’s questions, Kapil Sibal, representing the West Bengal government, countered that people at the hospital had taken photos, a case of unnatural death was immediately started, and a board was set up with a judicial magistrate present. However, CJI Chandrachud said that it was the hospital’s duty to file the FIR, especially in the absence of the victim’s parents.

Justice Pardiwala questioned the timeline of the FIR, asking, “Who is the first informant who filed the FIR? What is the time of the FIR?” Mr Sibal responded that the first informant was the father of the victim, who filed the FIR at 11:45 pm, followed by the Vice Principal of the hospital.

The CJI Chandrachud questioned the time at which the victim’s body was handed over for cremation, which was reportedly at 8:30 pm, and pointed out that the FIR was filed three hours later. The autopsy, conducted between 1:45 pm and 4:00 pm, revealed that the doctor had been murdered, yet the FIR was registered much later. “What was the principal, and the hospital board, doing during this time?” asked CJI Chandrachud. “It appears crime was detected in the morning. The hospital’s principal tried to pass it off as suicide and the parents were not allowed to see the body. No FIR was filed.” 

“That is not correct,” countered Mr Sibal. “FIR registered immediately, and the inquest shows it is a case of murder.”

READ | Corruption Case Against Ex-Head Of Kolkata Hospital Where Doctor Was Murdered

The Chief Justice also noted that after the principal’s resignation, he was reassigned as principal in another college. 

The Calcutta High Court instructed the West Bengal Health Department not to appoint Mr Ghosh to any other medical college until further notice. This order followed his brief and contentious appointment as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital, which was met with protests from students and junior doctors.

National Task Force

Additionally, the Supreme Court has set up a national task force (NTF) comprising top doctors who will submit recommendations to ensure the safety of doctors. The NTF has been asked to submit an interim report within three weeks and a final report within two months. 

The task force will comprise Surgeon Vice Admiral R Sarin, Dr D Nageshwar Reddy, Dr M Shreenivas, Dr Pratima Murty, Dr Goverdhan Dutt Puri, Dr Saumitra Rawat, Prof Anita Saxena, Head Cardiology, AIIMS Delhi, Prof Pallavi Sapre, Dean Grant Medical College Mumbai, Dr Padma Srivastava, Neurology department, AIIMS.

The matter has been next listed for hearing on August 22.

Two four-year-old girls were sexually assaulted at an English medium school by a cleaning staff in Maharashtra’s Thane. The incident has triggered massive protests, with residents blocking the Mumbai rail route at Badalpur railway station, bringing train services to a standstill. 

Visuals showed protesters pelting stones at cops as they fled across the railway tracks.

The two four-year-old girls were allegedly sexually assaulted by a 23-year-old male cleaning staff member inside the girls’ toilet at their school on August 16. The accused has since been arrested after an FIR was filed against him. 

The school’s response to the incident has done little to quell the fury of the parents and local residents. Although the school administration has suspended the principal and dismissed the class teacher and nanny involved, parents remain dissatisfied. 

Many parents believe that the school has failed to take full responsibility for the safety of their children, and they are particularly incensed by the lack of an official apology or assurance from the school management.

Investigations by the police have uncovered significant lapses in the school’s security measures. The probe has revealed that there were no female attendants present in the girls’ toilets, a basic safety requirement in any educational setting. Additionally, many of the school’s CCTV cameras were found to be non-functional.

Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the sexual assault cases. He has also ordered the Thane Police Commissioner to submit a proposal today to take the case to a fastrack court.

Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra, Vijay Wadettiwar has alleged a breakdown in the law and order situation. “This incident is going to bring shame to Maharashtra. Everyone is demanding that the case be tried on fast track and the accused be hanged within three months,” the Congress leader said.

Former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray demanded punishment for the culprits as soon as possible. “Ten years ago, Nirbhaya (case) happened in Delhi and the guilty were punished, but after how long? Those delaying justice should also be held guilty. There should be no politicisation,” he added.

Two nursery students in Thane district were allegedly sexually abused by a school sweeper, leading to protests at Badlapur railway station. The incident, discovered by the children’s families, prompted the suspension of school staff and attracted political condemnation. The police faced criticism for delayed action, finally registering an FIR after intervention by the District Women and Child Welfare Department.