FIR, Principal, Mob Vandalism: Three Key Questions Raised By Supreme Court In Kolkata Rape And Murder Case

Taking suo moto cognizance of the trainee doctor's rape and murder at state-run Kolkata hospital, the three-judge Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud raised certain questions.

1. Delay in FIR: The CJI questioned why no FIR was filed which shows a clear case of murder. Kapil Sibal, representing the West Bengal government, argued that the accused has been arrested.

The court noted that the FIR was filed by the victim's father, that too, at 11:45 pm, more than three hours after the victim's body was handed over to the parents at 8:30 pm for cremation.

2. Lapses by then principal: Former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Dr Sandip Ghosh who stepped down a couple of days after the incident, also came under the Supreme Court's watch.

The CJI questioned what the principal was doing, why he tried to pass the murder as a suicide earlier and why he was appointed the head of some other college after resigning from RG Kar.

3. The mob attack: The CJI said that he is unable to comprehend how the state was not able to handle the issue of vandalism at the hospital that happened during the midnight protest.

The court asked the state of West Bengal to file a status report by 22 August on the progess of the investigation into acts of vandalism which took place in the hospital before Independence Day.

The Supreme Court has listed the matter for next hearing on 23 August. It asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to subit its status report by 22 August.

It directed all states to collect data from hospitals regarding the number security personnel employed, total resting rooms etc and information of whether all areas of hospital are accessible to the general public.