Taking a suo-motu case against the RG Kar rape and murder of a trainee doctor, the Supreme Court bench led by justices Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud ordered the CISF to provide enhanced security at the premises of RG Kar hospital, the site of the horrific rape and murder of a woman doctor.
The decision of added security was taken by the Supreme Court after an unknown mob attacked and vandalised the government hospital premises on August 14, the same night when women in India protested a silent march of “Reclaim the Night” for the rape victim.
Nation cannot wait for another rape for things to change on ground’ says CJI
During a hearing regarding the RG Kar incident, the CJI mentioned that, “The nation cannot wait for another rape for things to change on ground.”
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud further noted that the medical professions in hospitals have become more vulnerable in the past few years due to patriarchal biases which causes women to become targets more often. The court also observed that the existing laws do not promptly address the institutional safety standards for doctors and medical workers. He said, “As more and more women join the work force…..the nation cannot wait another rape for things to change on the ground.”
50 FIRS filed in mob vandalism case
During the hearing, senior advocate Kapil Sibbal also pointed out towards the arrest of 37 people and 50 FIRs which had been filed in the case of mob vandalism on August 14. Meanwhile, Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, said that filing 50 FIRs was more of a recipe for ‘not’ investigating. Reserving the next hearing to August 22 on this issue, the Supreme Court ordered the West Bengal government to submit a report on the mob vandalism at RG Kar hospital.
