SC Transfers RG Kar Medical College Rape-murder Case to Calcutta HC

A two-judge Bench comprising Justices M.M. Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma directed that the entire case record be forwarded to the High Court. The apex court also ordered that a copy of the status report be provided to the parents of the victim.

The Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the case in 2024 after the incident triggered nationwide outrage and prolonged protests across West Bengal.

Senior advocate Karuna Nundy, appearing for associations of junior and senior doctors, told the court that a National Task Force (NTF) had been constituted to evolve a national consensus on safety and well-being of medical professionals. “I represent doctors of West Bengal. The NTF was set up to frame effective recommendations to address safety concerns of medical professionals. Only one hearing is required to conclude this matter,” she said.

Observing that further monitoring could be undertaken by a constitutional court in the State, the Bench said, “We deem it appropriate to transfer the proceedings to a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court, with a request to the Chief Justice to place the matter before an appropriate Bench.”

The body of the postgraduate trainee doctor was found in a seminar room of RG Kar Medical College on August 9 last year. Kolkata Police arrested Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, the following day. On January 20, a Kolkata trial court sentenced Roy to life imprisonment till death.

Even after the conviction, the Supreme Court continued to monitor ancillary issues arising from the case, including the regularisation of unauthorised absence of doctors during protests.

In November last year, the NTF, in a report submitted as part of the Centre’s affidavit, said a separate central law to deal with offences against healthcare professionals was not necessary. It noted that State laws and provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, were sufficient to address both minor and serious offences.

The task force also pointed out that 24 States had enacted laws to address violence against healthcare professionals, clearly defining “healthcare institutions” and “medical professionals”.

Initially investigated by the Kolkata Police, the case was transferred to the CBI on August 13 after the Calcutta High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the State police investigation. The Supreme Court subsequently assumed oversight of the matter on August 19, 2024.