Supreme Court Urges Resumption of Work Amid Kolkata Horror Case Controversy.
The Supreme Court of India has directed striking doctors in West Bengal to resume work by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, warning of potential disciplinary action if the boycott continues. The court’s directive came as it scrutinized the handling of the rape and murder case of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital.
A bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud expressed concern over procedural lapses, including a 14-hour delay in filing the FIR and the missing challan required for the autopsy. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta revealed that the challan, crucial for post-mortem documentation, was not in the CBI’s records. The court questioned how the post-mortem was conducted without this document.
The Chief Justice also sought clarity on the timing discrepancies between the issuance of the death certificate and the registration of the unnatural death report. The CBI flagged issues with evidence handling, including improper storage of blood samples and incomplete CCTV footage.
The Supreme Court has directed the CBI to submit a fresh status report by September 17 and instructed state authorities and the CISF to address logistical and security challenges promptly.
The court emphasized that protests should not impact critical healthcare services, urging all parties to act in the interest of justice and public welfare.
