Today, Tuesday, August 13, the Calcutta High Court asked why a murder case was not registered at the outset and an unnatural death case was initiated into the alleged rape and killing of a woman doctor at state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. This was stated in a report by PTI.
Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam put forth the question to the West Bengal government lawyer when he claimed that an unnatural death case was registered, as there was no immediate complaint of murder.
Further, the division bench presided by the Chief Justice said the body of the postgraduate trainee (PGT) was not found on the roadside, and the hospital's superintendent or principal could have filed the complaint.
The body of the doctor, who was allegedly raped and murdered inside a seminar hall of the RG Kar hospital, was found on Friday morning, August 9.
In addition to this, a civic volunteer was arrested in this connection on Saturday, August 10.
Matter in the high court
The parents of the postgraduate trainee had moved the high court, seeking a court-monitored investigation in the case.
Several other public interest litigations (PILs) were also filed, and a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe was sought.
Furthermore, hearing the petitions, the division bench also observed that "something is missing" in the probe, and asked whether the then principal of the medical college, Dr Sandip Ghosh's statement was recorded, to which the state lawyer answered in the negative.
Meanwhile, questioning how the principal of RG Kar Hospital, who submitted his resignation, was reinstated as principal of Calcutta National Medical College (CNMC) and Hospital within hours, the bench, also comprising Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, asked his counsel to produce both the resignation letter and the subsequent appointment letter.
The high court told Ghosh's lawyer to ask him to go on a long leave by 3 pm, failing which it will pass appropriate orders.
In addition to this, the Chief Justice also said the murder was so gruesome that the doctors and interns were justified in venting their anguish.
Junior doctors and interns across West Bengal continued their cease work today, August 13, protesting against the incident and demanding adequate protection for hospital staff.
The high court said the state should dialogue with the agitating doctors.
Subsequently, the state's lawyer claimed that a transparent probe was being conducted into the case by the Kolkata Police.
On a question by the court to the state as to how it will ensure that evidence is not destroyed as was alleged by a few lawyers of the petitioners, the government counsel said that the probe is being headed by a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) rank officer under the supervision of an additional commissioner (I) of Kolkata Police.
On a direction by the bench, the West Bengal government produced the case diary at 1 pm. The court then adjourned the hearing on the matter till 3 pm.
