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Synopsis

Amid the ongoing protests concerning the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor, the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) on Tuesday strongly condemned the inhumane and heinous act of rape and murder committed on the doctor while on 36-hour duty at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.

The Executive Committee of the Delhi High Court Bar Association convened an urgent meeting to address the ongoing issue. After thorough deliberation, the Committee unanimously resolved, "We condemn the barbaric and brutal incident of rape and murder of an innocent and young postgraduate trainee doctor while on duty at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in the State of Kolkata. We appeal the investigating Agencies to take stringent actions against the perpetrators at the earliest''.

The Committee in the resolution stated that on August 21, 2024, the members of the Delhi High Court Bar Association will wear a white ribbon band, as a mark of protest and to honor the victim and her family. This gesture is intended to pay respect and demonstrate solidarity with the cause.

The resolution emphasized the need to restore public faith and enhance security for women throughout the country. It appealed to the Central Government and State Governments to take necessary measures to prevent the reoccurrence of gruesome incidents.

While urging all members of the Bar to offer their full cooperation, the committee further resolved to provide pro-bono legal assistance to the families of victims in similar cases. This support aims to help them seek justice and ensure that those responsible for such heinous acts are held guilty and punished accordingly. 

The Apex court also took suo moto cognizance of the incident from August 9, 2024, where a young doctor working at a medical college in Kolkata was brutally raped and murdered.

The move comes against the backdrop of a letter petition filed by Dr. Monica Singh, addressed to the Chief Justice of India (CJI), urging him to take suomotu cognizance of the case. The petition called on the CJI to issue directives for an immediate and impartial investigation into the attacks on doctors protesting the incident at R.G. Kar Medical College.

Previously, The Calcutta HC transferred the matter to the Central Bureau of Investigation remarking it was an “absolute failure of state machinery.” The CBI has begun investigating the matter.

The victim was discovered dead in a seminar hall at the hospital last Friday. The CBI has since registered an FIR based on the initial police report, which includes charges of rape and murder.

The High Court's division bench, led by Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya, strongly criticized the hospital administration and alsoquestioned the principal's resignation and the quick appointment to another medical college.

The Court had previously directed the Kolkata Police two days ago to provide a detailed account of the events leading up to the vandalism at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, which occurred on the night of August 14.