Kolkata: The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court, demanding a court-monitored investigation into the horrific rape and murder of a second-year postgraduate medical student at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The incident occurred on the college campus after the victim had completed her night shift.
The petition, filed by Advocate Jhuma Sen, urges the court to ensure that the West Bengal government complies with the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH). This request follows the Supreme Court’s directives in the case of Aureliano Fernandes vs State of Goa & Ors. The plea also emphasises the need to hold the institution accountable, particularly focusing on the roles of the principal and other authorities at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The High Court previously raised concerns about the principal’s actions following the incident, noting his swift reappointment as the head of another medical college just hours after resigning from R.G. Kar. The court found these actions “suspicious” and ordered the principal to take indefinite leave until further notice.
The tragic incident has sparked nationwide protests, leading the Calcutta High Court to transfer the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The decision was made after the court expressed dissatisfaction with the state police’s handling of the case, citing a lack of proactive investigation and support for the victim’s family.
The division bench, comprising Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya, heard multiple petitions, including one from the victim’s parents, who requested an independent investigation. They raised concerns over the Kolkata Police’s initial handling of the case, including the arrest of a civic volunteer, which they believe was an attempt to cover up the true facts of the incident.
Senior Advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, representing the victim’s parents, revealed that the family was initially informed that their daughter had fallen ill. Upon arriving at the college, they were told she had committed suicide but were denied access to her body for three hours. The court criticised the police’s classification of the incident as an unnatural death and questioned the college authorities’ lack of cooperation in the investigation.
The court emphasised that any further delay in the investigation could lead to the destruction of crucial evidence and ordered the principal to remain on indefinite leave. The court’s decision to transfer the case to the CBI reflects the urgency and gravity of the situation.
