CJI DY Chandrachud explains why Supreme Court took suo motu note of RG Kar rape and murder case

The Supreme Court today revealed why it took suo motu cognisance of the recent horrific rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor in Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital..A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra stated at the outset,"Why we decided to take suo motu though High Court was hearing it because this is not just a case of a horrific murder in the Kolkata hospital...but this is about systemic issue about safety of doctors across India.".The Bench went on to take note of the lack of safe conditions for doctors working in hospitals, especially women doctors who are more vulnerable."...the young doctors have to put in long hours...no separate rest and duty room for men and women doctors. We need to evolve a national consensus for a standard national protocol for safe conditions of work. Ultimately what is equality under the Constitution if women cannot be safe in their workplace?"The Court said that such a protocol has to be made enforceable across india..On the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder, the Court expressed regret at the fact that the victim's name and photos were published across the media. CJI Chandrachud said that there were judgments barring the disclosure of the names of sexual assault survivors.The Court then proceeded to raise questions regarding the incident."After the crime was detected in the early hours of the morning, the Principal tried to pass this off as a suicide, and parents were not allowed to see the body." Even as Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the State of West Bengal, remonstrated, the CJI went on to point out that there was no first information report (FIR) registered until late at night. He also asked whether the FIR categorized the incident as a murder. Sibal replied that the inquest report shows that it was a case of murder.The CJI then asked,"But until late at night, there is no FIR saying it is a clear case of murder? How did the Principal try to pass this off as a suicide? The body was passed to parents in evening for cremation...then next day doctors are protesting and a mob invaded the hospital and critical facilities were damaged. What was Kolkata Police doing? The crime scene is in the hospital. Police has to protect the crime scene."Referrig to the mob that invaded the hospital and damaged the property after the incident, Soliticor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central government, said,"7,000 people cannot enter a place without know how of the police."The CJI then questioned how the Principal of RG Kar Hospital, who was relieved of his post after the incident, was appointed as Principal of another college immediately. "CBI needs to file a status report on this Thursday and let it apprise us about the status. Since it is sensitive stage, let it be given only to us. Today we will pass an order," he said..[Read Order].[Watch video of the proceedings]