RG Kar Hospital Rape-Murder Case: Supreme Court directs National Task Force to respond to States' Inputs
The Court directed the NTF to respond to states’ submissions on hospital safety after stakeholders flagged inaction since its 2024 constitution following the RG Kar Hospital rape-murder;
The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the National Task Force (NTF) to respond to reports and suggestions filed by states and stakeholders in the suo motu case concerning the rape and murder of a young doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal.
The Bench of Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh said the matter would be listed for detailed hearing after eight weeks on a non-miscellaneous day at 2 PM, to ensure presence of all counsel.
Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, appearing for the State of Uttar Pradesh, informed the Bench that responses had already been submitted to the NTF.
Counsel for the Delhi Medical Association also stated that suggestions had been filed in compliance with earlier directions.
Senior Advocate Karuna Nundy, representing a collective of 25,000 doctors and the parents of the deceased victim, pointed out delays in the investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), despite directions from the High Court seven months ago.
“That aspect has gone to the High Court and they are considering it. However, the report has not been filed even after seven months of the direction…so we may be coming back on that,” she told the Court.
She further submitted that in terms of the Court’s last direction, all stakeholders had submitted their responses to the NTF’s report, and that there had only been “a single-page addendum” from the NTF since May 2025.
Taking note of the submissions, the Court directed the NTF to file a consolidated response addressing the states’ submissions and other suggestions, and listed the matter for further hearing after eight weeks.
In January this year, the Court had asked hospitals to regularise the absence of doctors who participated in protests against the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Hospital, Kolkata. The Court had ordered that doctors who returned to duty after 22 August 2024 would have their absence regularised and that the said period would be considered as time on duty, not as leave.
On 22 August 2024, the Supreme Court had assured doctors protesting over the Kolkata rape and murder incident, that no coercive steps shall be taken. This order came after a counsel informed the CJI Chandrachud-led bench that protesting doctors were facing backlash. Notably, on January 20, the Sealdah Sessions Court in Kolkata sentenced the main accused, Sanjoy Roy, to life imprisonment for the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College.
Hearing Date: August 5, 2025
Bench: Justice M.M. Sundresh and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh