Supreme Court Steps In: Justice for Trainee Doctor in Kolkata
New Delhi, India – August 19: Congress leader Rashid Ali praised the Supreme Court’s decision to take suo motu cognisance of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. He expressed confidence that the apex court will uncover the truth and deliver justice.
Speaking about the case, Rashid Ali said, “I welcome this decision of the Supreme Court. The apex court will uncover the truth behind the case and deliver justice. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating the matter, and if the CBI is investigating under the supervision of the Supreme Court, then there is no better thing than that.”
The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the incident, with a bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra set to hear the case on August 20. The body of the post-graduate trainee doctor was found in the RG Kar Hospital’s seminar room on August 9. The Kolkata Police arrested a civic volunteer the next day in connection with the case.
The Calcutta High Court directed the CBI to take over the investigation after expressing dissatisfaction with the Kolkata Police’s handling of the case. On August 16, two Supreme Court lawyers and a doctor from Telangana wrote to Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, urging him to take suo motu cognisance of the case to ensure justice for the victim.
Advocates Ujjawal Gaur and Rohit Pandey, along with Dr. Monica Singh from the Army College of Dental Sciences in Secunderabad, highlighted the need for the highest court to intervene. They emphasized that the judiciary must send a clear message that such heinous crimes will not be tolerated and that the dignity of women must be fiercely protected by the law.
Dr. Monica Singh also filed a letter petition in the Supreme Court seeking immediate intervention and comprehensive security measures for medical institutions across the country. She highlighted the need for Central Forces to protect RG Kar Medical College and its staff following the incident.
The tragic incident has led to nationwide strikes and protests by civil societies and doctors, demanding severe punishment for the accused and better safety measures for medical professionals.
Doubts Revealed
Supreme Court -: The Supreme Court is the highest court in India. It makes important decisions about laws and justice.
suo motu cognisance -: Suo motu cognisance means that the court has taken notice of a matter on its own, without anyone bringing it to their attention.
trainee doctor -: A trainee doctor is someone who is learning to become a full doctor. They work in hospitals to gain experience.
RG Kar Medical College -: RG Kar Medical College is a well-known medical school and hospital in Kolkata, a big city in India.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud -: Chief Justice DY Chandrachud is the head judge of the Supreme Court of India. He leads the court in making important decisions.
Calcutta High Court -: The Calcutta High Court is a major court in Kolkata. It handles important legal cases in the region.
CBI -: CBI stands for Central Bureau of Investigation. It is a top agency in India that investigates serious crimes.
Kolkata Police -: The Kolkata Police is the police force responsible for maintaining law and order in Kolkata.
Congress leader Rashid Ali -: Rashid Ali is a leader in the Congress party, one of the major political parties in India.
advocates -: Advocates are lawyers who represent people in court and help them with legal matters.
