Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: Supreme Court takes suo motu cognisance, to hear matter on Tuesday

The alleged rape and murder of the junior doctor at a seminar hall of the state-run hospital has sparked widespread protests.

The Supreme Court on Sunday took a suo motu cognisance of the August 9 incident related to the alleged rape and murder of a trainee PG doctor in RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata and scheduled to hear the matter on August 20.

The suo motu case titled as "In Re: Alleged Rape and Murder of Trainee Doctor in RG Kar Medical College Hospital, Kolkata and related issues" has been posted for consideration before a bench of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra on Tuesday.

Track latest updates of the Kolkata doctor rape and murder case here.

A number of letter petitions have been filed before the apex court urging the CJI to take up the case as suo motu in view of "horrific and brutal" rape and murder of the 31-year-old trainee PG doctor on August 9 and subsequent attack on the hospital on August 14.

On August 13, the Calcutta High Court had directed the CBI to take over the investigation, after slamming the Kolkata Police for its laxity in the case. The High Court passed the order of directing the probe to the CBI, after hearing petitions filed by one of the parents of the victim and some other individuals.

One of the letters stated the incidents at Kolkata has severely impacted the morale of the medical community, raising concerns about their safety across the country.

"The attack on R G Kar Medical College is not merely an isolated incident of violence, but a direct assault on the healthcare system of our nation. It undermines the safety and security of those who have dedicated their lives to serving others. Swift and decisive action from the Supreme Court is essential to restore faith in the rule of law and to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of our medical institutions," said a letter by Dr Monica Singh from Secunderabad.

On August 17, the Indian Medical Association held a 24-hour nationwide strike in protest against the incident.

The IMA also wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a central law, arguing a central Act incorporating the amendments of 2020 in the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 (for the protection of doctors during the pandemic period) would strengthen the existing 25 state legislations.