On Monday, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the West Bengal government, informed the Supreme Court about the ongoing crisis in the state following the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital in August. Sibal reported that 23 people have died as a result of a doctors’ strike that erupted in response to the tragic incident. The Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognizance of the case, prompting the state government to submit a status report on the investigation.
However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta revealed that he had not yet received the report. The Supreme Court bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and including Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, reviewed the investigation report, which was submitted in a sealed cover. The Court’s review aims to assess the progress and effectiveness of the ongoing investigation.
In addition to the investigation, the Centre has raised concerns about the West Bengal government’s failure to provide adequate logistical support to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is tasked with security at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The Union Home Ministry, in its application to the Supreme Court, highlighted the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government’s alleged lack of cooperation as indicative of broader issues. The Centre has requested that the Court direct state authorities to extend full support to the CISF to ensure effective security and management at the hospital.
The situation has drawn significant attention from both legal and political spheres, with the Supreme Court’s intervention underscoring the seriousness of the allegations and the need for comprehensive action and accountability.