The Supreme Court of India has strongly criticized the initial response of the West Bengal authorities and the former Principal of RG Kar Medical College, Sandip Ghosh, in the wake of the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor in Kolkata on August 9, 2024. The case, which has triggered massive protests across the country, was taken up by the Supreme Court on its own accord.

During the hearing on Monday, a bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, and Justices JB Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra expressed serious concerns about the delayed filing of the First Information Report (FIR) and the premature classification of the incident as a suicide by the ex-principal.

“What was the principal doing? Why did he pass it as a suicide? Why was the FIR not being registered till late night?” the bench questioned, indicating the serious lapses in the initial handling of the case. The court highlighted the brutal nature of the crime, stating, “The brutality of the sexual assault has shocked the conscience of the nation.”

The Supreme Court also raised issues regarding the delay in allowing the victim’s parents to view her body and the inadequate security measures that allowed a mob to vandalize the hospital and tamper with the crime scene. “What was the police doing when a mob entered the hospital where the crime scene was? How did the state fail to prevent this?” the court asked, emphasizing the failure of the authorities to maintain law and order.

The bench further criticized the Bengal government for reassigning Sandip Ghosh to another college after his resignation from RG Kar Medical College, despite his questionable conduct in handling the case. “After the principal resigned from here, he was assigned as principal in some other college. That too when his conduct is in question?” the court noted.

In light of these concerns, the Supreme Court ordered the constitution of a task force, including central government officials, to thoroughly investigate the case and the subsequent vandalism at the hospital. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been directed to submit a status report by August 22, and the West Bengal government has been asked to provide a comprehensive update on the overall investigation into the vandalism by the same date.

This stern action by the Supreme Court follows a series of petitions, including those from Supreme Court advocates Ujjawal Gaur and Rohit Pandey, as well as Dr. Monica Singh from Telangana, calling for urgent judicial intervention. These petitions underscored the critical need for justice and security for medical professionals in the wake of this heinous crime.