Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
The apex court had taken suo motu cognizance of the case in 2024.
A bench of Justices MM Sundaresh and Satish Chandra Sharma said the case could not be heard “in pieces” as several cases were pending in the Calcutta High Court.
During the hearing, the court asked senior advocate Karuna Nandy, representing the junior and senior doctors’ association, to submit a table of cases pending before the Calcutta High Court.
Nandi said that the protesting doctors are being harassed by the police and are being repeatedly called for questioning.
He sought directions from the apex court that doctors should be provided security.
The apex court, after considering their arguments, said it cannot pass a “general order” for the safety of doctors, but would consider the matter on the next date of hearing.
“We are struggling with many things and there is no end to it. It is easy for the Calcutta High Court to monitor the protests. Is it possible for us to monitor the protests in Kolkata while sitting in Delhi? “How can we pass blanket orders for the safety of doctors. The police have the right to summon you,” the bench said orally.
Now the hearing of this case will take place after the winter holidays.
The body of the postgraduate trainee doctor was found in the seminar room of the hospital on August 9 last year. The next day, Kolkata Police arrested civic volunteer Sanjay Roy.
But January 20, Kolkata Trial Court Roy, convicted in the case, was sentenced to “life imprisonment till death”. This heinous crime sparked outrage across the country and led to prolonged protests in West Bengal.
The top court, even after the primary conviction, is monitoring several ancillary issues, including regularizing the unauthorized absence of doctors.
Taking suo motu cognizance of the matter, the bench had constituted a National Task Force (NTF) on August 20 last year to formulate a protocol to ensure the safety of medical professionals in the wake of the crime.
In November last year, the NTF in its report – which is part of the affidavit to the central government – had said there was no need for a separate central law to deal with crimes against health professionals.
The panel said state laws have adequate provisions to address minor offenses in addition to serious offenses under the Indian Code of Justice, 2023.
Among several recommendations, the NTF said 24 states have enacted laws to address violence against health care professionals by defining the terms “health care institution” and “medical professional.”
Initially investigated by the Kolkata Police, the case was transferred to the CBI on 13 August after the Calcutta High Court expressed dissatisfaction over the earlier investigation.
The apex court later took over monitoring of the case on August 19, 2024.