High Court Grills State Government Over Doctor's Murder Case

The Calcutta High Court questioned why a murder case was not promptly registered for the alleged rape and killing of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The court criticized the investigation's handling and demanded accountability from state officials, leading to ongoing protests by medical staff.

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday questioned the delay in registering a murder case for the alleged rape and killing of a woman doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam asked the West Bengal government lawyer why only an unnatural death case was registered initially, despite the circumstances suggesting otherwise.

The court criticized the hospital administration and questioned their inaction, noting that the trainee doctor's body was found on hospital premises, rather than a public space.

A civic volunteer has been arrested in connection with the crime, which has prompted the victim's parents to seek a court-monitored probe.

The bench also remarked that the investigation seemed lacking and requested clarification on the roles of the hospital's principal and superintendent, with particular focus on Dr. Sandip Ghosh, who was quickly reinstated to a new position after resigning.

The court has demanded urgent action from Ghosh and threatened to pass orders if compliance is not met.

Protests have erupted among junior doctors and interns statewide, demanding better security and voicing their fears and frustrations following the incident.

The state's lawyer assured the court of a transparent investigation supervised by high-ranking police officers, while the court continues to monitor progress and adjourned discussions till the afternoon.

(With inputs from agencies.)