New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to transfer the trial of the case of rape and murder of woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital from West Bengal to another state, saying it had earlier transferred cases but there was no need for the same in this case.
“We have done it in cases like Manipur where we transferred cases from Manipur to Assam. But we are not doing anything like that here. There is no need for such transfer,” Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, who was heading a three-judge bench, said.
Trial court judge had sufficient powers to order another investigation if it feels it necessary after examining the evidence, the CJI added.
Apex Court was hearing suo motu cognisance it had taken in rape and murder of woman doctor
A bench comprising CJI Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra was hearing a suo motu cognisance it had taken in the rape and murder of a 31-year-old woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.
The bench, which had directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a fresh status report on the investigation into the case, went through the sixth status report filed by the agency and noted that Additional sessions judge of a Sealdah court has framed charges against prime accused punishable under section 64 and 103 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS).
“Since investigation is underway in the case, we refrain from making observations. Let an updated status report be filed after 4 weeks,” the bench said.
Apex Court took note of interim report of NTF
The bench, during the hearing, was also informed that the Centre has filed an interim report of the National Task Force (NTF) and the entire report, divided into three parts, has short term, long term and medium term measures.
The bench noted that the NTF has submitted an interim report and has formulated recommendations in two categories – prevention of sexual violence and prevention of physical violence – and that the NTF has suggested that all measures shall be adopted by the medical institutions and states and Union Territories (UTs).
“We direct that the copy of report be made available to all counsels and also be supplied to chief secretaries to all states and UTs,” the bench said. It also allowed secretaries to file brief note on any suggestions to the report and said that this exercise is to be completed within three weeks.
Sealdah court recently framed charges against prime accused Sanjay Roy
The 31-year-old woman doctor was allegedly raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9 when she had gone to sleep in the seminar room of the hospital during a break in the night. The body of the woman doctor was later found with severe injuries in the seminar room. The Kolkata Police recently filed chargesheet against Sanjay Roy, who was working as a civic volunteer with the Kolkata Police and was arrested the following day on August 10 for his alleged involvement in crime, and a Sealdah court has framed charges against him. The Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation of the case from the Kolkata Police to the CBI.
The apex court had earlier constituted a 10-member NTF to formulate a protocol for ensuring the safety and security of doctors and other health care professionals.
