New Delhi: Taking suo- moto cognizance of the Kolkata Rape-Murder Case, Supreme Court has ordered to set up a 10-member National Task Force to ensure the safety and security of medical professionals. The DY Chandrachud led apex court bench has also asked the CBI to give a status report of the incident and the probe. It has also ordered the West Bengal government to submit a report on the attack inside RG Kar Medical College. The central agency and the state government have to submit their reports by August 22.
SC Slams Mamata Banerjee Govt
Criticizing the Mamata Banerjee government the Supreme Court said that it was expected to maintain law and order and protect the place of the incident intact, but it fails to understand why the government could not do it. It has also asked the government to arrest the suspects in the case and file FIRs against them.
Taking exceptions to the actions taken by the government, the apex court wondered how the principal of RG Kar Medical College was appointed in another college when his functioning was under suspicion.
Apex Court Expresses Concerns Over Exposing Victim’s Identity
The court has also expressed concern that the name of the victim has been made public contrary to the general practice and the guidelines in place. The bench asked if there is no security at the work place, how women can go and work there and it will be violation of their right to work.
Heading the bench, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and other Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra expressed concerns at such exposure, considering the sensitivity of the case and the consequences it may have on the integrity of the investigation and the dignity of the victim.
SC says “We are deeply concerned about the fact that the name, photo and video clip of the Kolkata rape victim was published all over. The law prohibits publishing victims’ names. Is this the way we provide dignity to the young doctor who has lost her life?”
SC also questions…
— ANI (@ANI) August 20, 2024
The matter figured sixth in the apex court’s cause list, and the hearing started at 10:30 in the morning. It was a petition filed on August 9 for an expanded scope of judicial scrutiny into the case. This would include how the case is handled in the public domain, and to see that the privacy of the victim is protected at all stages of the judicial process.
The Court has prioritized the case, showing how serious it is and also how careful one must be in deciding to protect the rights of the victim and the integrity of the legal process.
Supreme Court raises questions on the registration of the FIR and says it appears the crime was detected in the early hours of the morning and no FIR was filed.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal denies the fact and says that an unnatural death case was registered.
SC says until…
— ANI (@ANI) August 20, 2024
While the Supreme Court has asked why no FIR was registered since the crime was discovered early in the morning, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal replied an unnatural death case was registered. The Supreme Court drew attention that late night, too, no FIR was filed, which makes it a clear case of murder. Sibal responded, also the inquest report seems to suggest it was a murder case.
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