The Supreme Court saw intense deliberations during its suo motu hearing on the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor from Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College on Tuesday. The hearing took a surprising turn when a senior counsel sought a direction for the removal of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, citing her alleged failure in the case.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud firmly rejected the plea, reprimanding the counsel for politicizing the legal matter. “This is not a political forum,” Chandrachud remarked sharply, expressing his displeasure. He clarified that the court’s primary focus was on addressing the grievances of junior doctors protesting over the lack of safety in hospitals.
As the day’s hearing drew to a close, a senior counsel attempted to file an interlocutory application urging the court to demand the resignation of CM Mamata Banerjee. CJI Chandrachud, intervening immediately, said, “Who are you appearing for? This is not a political platform. We are here to hear the grievances in relation to the case, not to entertain political discussions.” The judge emphasized that such applications lacked relevance in the current proceedings.
Even after being cautioned, the counsel persisted with his submissions, prompting Chandrachud to issue a final warning, saying, “Listen to me first, or I will have you removed from the court.” The court ended its session soon after.
The West Bengal Junior Doctors Forum, meanwhile, made it clear that they were not demanding the resignation of the chief minister. Their primary concern is the implementation of their five-point demands to ensure safety and better working conditions for hospital staff across the state.
During the hearing, the bench reviewed a confidential status report submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The court noted that public disclosure of the report could compromise the ongoing investigation and instructed the CBI to provide an updated status by September 24.
Additionally, the victim’s father wrote to the court, highlighting certain findings in the investigation. CJI Chandrachud asked the CBI to take these concerns into account as the probe progressed. Senior advocate Indira Jaisingh, representing the junior doctors, mentioned that they would provide the names of individuals present at the crime scene to aid the investigation.
Apart from the investigation, the court also addressed other significant concerns raised by the protesting junior doctors. These included fears of punitive action by the state government and demands for stronger safety measures in hospitals across West Bengal. The court assured that these issues would be looked into during future proceedings.
With tensions still high among the medical community, the Supreme Court is expected to closely monitor developments in both the investigation and the implementation of safety protocols in hospitals.
