Supreme Court Flags Discrepancies in Kolkata Doctor's Rape-Murder Case

Supreme Court Identifies Discrepancies 
The Supreme Court of India has expressed grave concerns about discrepancies in the status report submitted by the West Bengal government concerning the ongoing investigation into the rape and murder of a postgraduate medical student at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata.

Key Issues Identified:

• Postmortem Timing: The court found it alarming that the postmortem was conducted before the case was registered as an unnatural death, questioning the legality of this action.
• Delayed FIR: The FIR was reportedly registered only after the cremation of the victim, raising suspicions of a possible cover-up by the local authorities.
• Crime Scene Handling: There were allegations that the crime scene was altered before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over, which the state government denies.

Court's Directives:

• Involvement of All Stakeholders: The Supreme Court has directed the newly formed National Task Force to consider input from all stakeholders while formulating national safety protocols for healthcare professionals.
• Protection of Doctors: The court assured that no coercive action would be taken against doctors protesting peacefully and urged them to return to work, emphasizing that public health services must continue uninterrupted.

Next Steps in the Investigation:

• Further Hearings: The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing for September 5 and ordered the resealing of the status reports submitted by the CBI and the West Bengal government.
• National Protocol Development: The Ministry of Health has been instructed to create a portal where stakeholders can submit their recommendations for improving safety in healthcare settings.

This development is crucial as it addresses not only the specific case but also the broader issue of safety and justice for medical professionals across India.