The Supreme Court, after reviewing the latest status report submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), observed that the trial concerning the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College Hospital, Kolkata, is expected to conclude within a month.
The Court noted that the trial proceedings are being conducted on a daily basis from Monday to Thursday at the Special CBI Court in Sealdah. Out of 81 prosecution witnesses, the statements of 43 have already been recorded. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar made these observations while addressing the suo motu case initiated in response to the incident.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, informed the bench about a separate investigation into financial irregularities at RG Kar Hospital, which has resulted in the filing of a chargesheet. However, prosecution in this case is pending approval from the State Government, as the accused are public officials. Advocate Vrinda Grover, representing the victim's parents, expressed hope that the CBI would file a supplementary chargesheet in the rape-murder case to include individuals allegedly involved in covering up the crime.
The Court also took note of a report submitted by the National Task Force (NTF), which was established to propose measures for enhancing the safety of healthcare professionals. States and Union Territories have been directed to respond to the recommendations, and the NTF has been instructed to submit its final report within 12 weeks. The matter will next be reviewed on March 17, with parties having the liberty to raise concerns in case of delays in the trial. Additionally, the Supreme Court directed AIIMS to consider a petition filed by certain doctors, seeking that the period of their protests not be classified as absence from duty, in light of earlier relief granted by the Supreme Court.
The trainee doctor's body was discovered in the seminar room of RG Kar Hospital on August 9. A civic volunteer was arrested by Kolkata Police the following day. Dissatisfied with the police's investigation, the Calcutta High Court transferred the case to the CBI on August 13. Subsequently, on August 19, the Supreme Court initiated a suo motu case. In October, the CBI filed a chargesheet against Sanjay Roy, who had been apprehended by Kolkata Police earlier.
Case Title: In Re : Alleged Rape and Murder of Trainee Doctor in RG Kar Medical College Hospital Kolkata
