Kolkata, 2024: Amid the nationwide outrage and protests in the brutal rape and murder case of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the Supreme Court of India resumed suo motu hearing on Tuesday. A bench combining Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Nisar conducted the hearing on the matter.

The Director of Health Services and the Director of Medical Education were removed and Manoj Kumar Verma replaced Vineet Goyal as Kolkata Police Commissioner.

Highlights of the hearing

The Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud addressed and rejected the demand to stop live streaming citing that it is a matter of public interest and is an open court. Notably, live-streaming concerns were raised about the safety of advocates due to potential threats.

“As far as the issue of threats being received by lawyers is concerned, we will take care of that,”

Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud

Further, the Supreme Court also directed the Central Bureau of Investigation to submit a fresh report on the investigation of the case. The court has asked to submit a confidential report on the progress of the investigation into the matter.

The court was convinced by the CBI’s investigation on the matter and said, “The investigation in this matter is progressing swiftly. The CBI is investigating all the aspects that were discussed during the previous hearing, whether it pertains to the charge sheet, damage to any crime scene, etc.”

Why was it significant?

The Supreme Court’s hearing was significant as in the last hearing, the junior doctors were directed to resume their work by 5 pm on September 10 to avoid any harsh action from the court.

Kapil Sibal, representing Mamata Banerjee’s government in the apex court has claimed that the doctor’s absence from work has resulted in the death of 23 patients till September 9, when the last case was witnessed.

What’s the connection?

On Monday, CM Mamata Banerjee held a meeting with the doctors protesting. The first round of the session lasted about 2 hours at her residence, followed by another final two and a half hours of meeting. In the meeting, Mamata understood the demands of the doctors and removed Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, who is likely to resign from his position today.

This to be noted that the CM visited the protest on-site and invited the doctors to hold negotiations. Meanwhile, the proposed meeting was called off, after the doctors claimed that they asked to depart ‘unceremoniously’ after making them wait for straight three hours at the gate of the CM’s residence. The doctors have denied entering the CM’s residence due to the government’s rejection of their demand for live streaming.

Doctors protesting despite SC’s direction

Despite the Supreme Court’s deadline for junior doctors protesting in West Bengal to resume their duties on Tuesday, September 10th, 2024, and by 5 PM, the junior doctor has decided to continue their cease work against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The deadline was issued by the court following the state government’s assurance that no strict action would be taken against the protesting doctors if they returned to their work.

Why does the story matter?

Kolkata has seen a wave of rallies and protests in response to the horrific rape and murder case of a doctor trainee named Moumita Debnath at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. Her body was found in a seminar room on campus. The incident sparked nationwide outrage and protests and demands for a thorough investigation and immediate action over the matter.

Thousands of people, including doctors, students, and residents, have carried out rallies on the streets, shouting slogans to demand justice, highlighting the need for safer conditions for women. Meanwhile, the case faced a lot of delays and slowed investigations. On August 13, 2024, the Calcutta High Court transferred this case to the Central Bureau of Investigation. Since then, doctors have continued to carry out rallies and protests, demanding the resignation of the state’s health secretary and director of health education following a recent governing meeting in Kolkata held on September 9, 2024.

The doctors have planned and announced plans to hold a rally at Swasthya Bhavan, the headquarters of the health department in Salt Lake.