RG Kar Rape & Murder: Supreme Court Refuses To Transfer Trial Outside West Bengal
A bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud said the trial court judge at Sialdah had sufficient powers to order another investigation upon feeling it necessary after examining the evidence.
The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to transfer the ongoing trial in the brutal rape and murder case of an onduty doctor an Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital outside the state of West Bengal.
A bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud said the trial court judge at Sialdah had sufficient powers to order another investigation upon feeling it necessary after examining the evidence.
The request to transfer the trial was made by a counsel appearing in court. The bench however, turned down the request.
"Yes, we have done it (transferred the trial out of State) in cases like Manipur (the Manipur violence case). But we are not doing anything like that here. No such transfer," the CJI Chandrachud said.
However, the counsel persisted and said, "people of West Bengal are losing faith in police and judiciary."
At this point the top court asked the lawyer that who he was appearing for and asked him to refrain from general statements.
"Do not talk about people. Whom are you appearing for now? Do not make such general statements. There is no such thing at all," CJI Chandrachud said.
The Supreme Court today examined the sixth status report filed by the CBI in relation to the ongoing investigation in case of rape and murder case. However, the bench did not make any observations saying the probe was underway and any revelations might hamper the probe.
Recently, the trial court in Kolkata framed charges against prime accused, Sanjay Roy. The trial will start on a day-to-day basis from November 11. The bench was also informed about the final report prepared by National task force (NTF). The NTF was constituted by the top court after it took suo motu cognisance in the case to create a protocol for ensuring the safety of health professionals.
The top court today directed the NTF's report to be circulated with all states and union territories and posted the hearing after four weeks.
The Supreme Court has been on regular intervals hearing the matter and looking over the CBI probe into the case that had cause a nation-wide upraor and a strike by doctors and medical professionals. The top court's order had a huge role to play in ending the strike and ensuring that doctors resume work without any fear.
In a previous hearing in October, the apex court had questioned the West Bengal government over the hiring of civic volunteers in the state and sought data on their recruitment and appointment process.
On September 30, the apex court had pulled up the West Bengal government over slow tardy progress in installing CCTVs and building toilets apart from separate resting rooms in government medical colleges, and ordered its completion by October 15.
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