The Supreme Court was informed on Tuesday (December 10, 2024) that the prosecution expects to complete the examination of all 53 of its witnesses in the murder and rape of a trainee doctor at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata early next week. File
| Photo Credit: ANI
The Supreme Court was informed on Tuesday (December 10, 2024) that the prosecution expects to complete the examination of all 53 of its witnesses in the gruesome murder and rape of a trainee doctor at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata early next week.
The case prosecuted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Sealdah Special Court has already seen 43 witnesses testify on a day-to-day basis from Monday (December 9, 2024) to Thursday (December 10, 2024) at 2 p.m. Once the prosecution witnesses testify, the court would move on to proceedings under Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which involves the trial judge putting questions, if any, to the accused, who could also present defence witnesses.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar orally asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central agency, whether it should record in its order that the trial would be completed in a month’s time. Mr. Mehta voiced caution, saying that the CBI intended to file a supplementary chargesheet on the charges of destruction of evidence.
The top court, later on, recorded the submission of advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for the victim’s parents, that the parties must be given liberty to approach it in case the trial suffers a hiccup and is delayed.
Ms. Grover said the parents were traumatised, and expressed hope that the Central agency would “uncover” every aspect of the truth to the last grain. Mr. Mehta said the CBI was informing the parents about every development. “We are doing our job honestly,” Mr. Mehta assured the court.
NTF report
Senior advocates Indira Jaising and Karuna Nundy, appearing for doctors’ associations, drew attention to the report submitted by the National Task Force (NTF), constituted on the orders of the apex court to better the safety and working conditions of medical personnel in government establishments.
Ms. Jaising pressed for the formation of an independent agency to monitor the implementation of the various NTF recommendations.
The court said the suggestions should be put before the NTF and the various State governments for feedback. “What may be good for one State may not be for another. The needs and requirements of States vary,” Chief Justice Khanna said.
The court also directed the State governments to file their responses to the NTF report. The responses from the States and the various parties, including the doctors’ associations, could be placed before the NTF for its comments.
The court listed the case for the week commencing March 17, 2025.
Three categories
The recommendations of the NTF have been divided into three categories — short-term, medium-term and long-term — after receiving suggestions from 53 associations and 1,700 individuals/hospitals. Information on facilities in over 8,000 government healthcare establishments and above 100-bed private healthcare establishments were considered.
The measures suggested deployment of trained security personnel in hospitals, coordination with local police, high walls, limited biometric access, night shift safety protocols and transportation for medical staff, augmentation mobile network, CCTVs, restrooms and toilets, internal complaints committee to act on sexual harassment complaints, etc.
Recommendations also include having “round-the-clock presence of a senior doctor in emergency service area”.
“Presence of senior residents in emergency units at night may also be ensured,” the report said.
The NTF said FIRs, including zero FIRs, should be filed within six hours of the reporting of any act of violence committed against medical professionals at their workplaces.
The task force identified “poor communication” between medical professionals and patients’ families as a major source of frustration, mistrust and tension leading to violence and even mob attacks.
Published – December 10, 2024 08:17 pm IST