RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case: The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday deferred till November the hearing of the suo motu case related to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The heinous crime, which occurred in August last year, sparked nationwide outrage and sustained protests across West Bengal.
A bench comprising Justices M M Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma adjourned the matter as it was occupied with another part-heard case. The bench is monitoring several connected issues beyond the conviction, including the regularisation of doctors’ unauthorised absences during protest periods.
Senior advocate Karuna Nandy, appearing for the Association of Junior and Senior Doctors, told the court that several doctors who participated in peaceful protests were being summoned for police interrogation. She requested the bench to schedule an early hearing to address these concerns.
Background of the RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case
The body of the postgraduate trainee doctor was discovered inside the hospital’s seminar room on August 9, 2024. The following day, Kolkata Police arrested Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, in connection with the case.
On January 20, 2025, a Kolkata trial court sentenced Roy to “life term imprisonment till death.” However, the Supreme Court continues to oversee the case due to its broader implications for medical professionals’ safety and institutional accountability.
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The case was initially handled by Kolkata Police but was later transferred to the CBI on August 13, 2024, after the Calcutta High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the local investigation. The apex court then assumed oversight of the matter on August 19, 2024, and the CBI filed its chargesheet in October last year.
Supreme Court’s Oversight and NTF Report
Following the suo motu notice, the Supreme Court constituted a National Task Force (NTF) on August 20, 2024, to formulate safety protocols for healthcare professionals in light of the RG Kar case.
In November 2024, the NTF submitted a report, included in the Centre’s affidavit, concluding that a separate central law for protecting healthcare professionals was not necessary, as existing state laws and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, provided sufficient coverage.
The task force noted that 24 states have already enacted laws addressing violence against healthcare professionals, defining “healthcare institutions” and “medical professionals” under their respective legislations.
