Supreme Court Refuses To Transfer RG Kar Case Outside West Bengal
New Delhi: During the trial of Kolkata’s RG Kar rape-murder case, the Supreme Court today refused to transfer the case outside West Bengal. Led by CJI DY Chandrachud, the bench reviewed the CBI’s sixth status report but refrained from making observations, citing that the investigation is ongoing.
CJI Chandrachud, while responding to a lawyer’s request to transfer the case, citing that the people were losing faith in the police and the judiciary, said, “Yes, we have done it in cases like Manipur. But we are not doing anything like that here. No such transfer.”
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The bench, comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, reviewed a report by the National Task Force formed to suggest steps to ensure a safe working environment for healthcare staff in hospitals.
The bench said the report must be circulated among chief secretaries of all states and union territories for their suggestions. The deadline for the same has been set as three weeks by the top court.
When a counsel pointed out that the people of west Bengal “have lost faith in the judiciary,” the Chief Justice, calling it “canteen gossip happening in court,” sternly responded with, “Who are you appearing for? Do not make such general statements. There is no such thing at all.”
The horrifying rape-murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital shook the nation, triggering widespread protests led by junior doctors. The Mamata Banerjee government drew fire as protesters alleged a cover-up attempt. Following the Calcutta High Court’s dissatisfaction with the Kolkata police, the case was transferred to the CBI.
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Taking suo motu cognisance of the case, the top court pulled up the RG Kar administration for its response and has been monitoring the CBI’s probe since.
The next hearing has been scheduled for November 11. Notably, CJI DY Chandrachud retires on November 10; the next CJI Sanjiv Khanna will replace him on the bench hearing the case.
