Calcutta HC has ordered CBI probe in the case of the alleged rape and murder of a 31-year-old junior doctor who was found dead in a seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on Friday. Calcutta HC has also directed police to hand over all documents related to the woman doctor murder case to CBI by 10 am on Wednesday and urged agitating doctors to call off ceasework, saying they have a ‘pious obligation’.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of the reported death in the mysterious circumstances. Healthcare services have been hit in the national capital amid the doctors’ protests at AIIMS Delhi — the largest Out-Patient Department (OPD) crowd — that caters to 10,000 patients a day, saw a 20 per cent reduction in registrations.
Protests also hit the other major hospitals in Delhi and Pune, King George’s Medical Universityin Lucknow, and the Sawai Man Singh Medical College in Jaipur. In Uttarakhand, doctors are continuing their work, owing to recent natural disasters in the state. However, they are wearing a black arm band as a mark of solidarity.
Pronouncing the judgment, A division bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya observed that there has been “no significant progress in the investigation”. “It is disheartening to note that the principal of the hospital was not proactive. It is on record that he resigned and it is unclear as to what orders were passed. Rather in the shortest possible time, he was made principal of another college.”
The bench came down heavily on the principal of the college and said the state government could have avoided appointing him to another college given the circumstances in which he tendered the resignation. “When the deceased was a doctor in the same hospital, it is surprising why the principal did not lodge a complaint. This gives rise to suspicion,” the bench observed.
“Instead of relieving him, he was appointed as head of another college. It is not clear what tearing hurry there was to appoint him again. Many submissions have been made about him being a powerful person however these aspects are not gone into,” the bench said.
The Court had directed the principal to go on long leave during the hearing earlier today. The bench directed that the principal must not be allowed to hold the principal’s post until further notice.
