NHRC takes suo motu cognizance of Kolkata doctor rape, murder case
Aug 13, 2024
New Delhi [India], August 13 : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday took a suo motu cognizance of the alleged sexual assault of a second-year PG student of RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the victim. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, in West Bengal calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks, said NHRC.
The report is expected to include the present status of the investigation being conducted by the police and action taken against the responsible persons as well as compensation if any, paid to the next of kin of the deceased. The Commission would also like to know about the steps taken/ proposed by the authorities to ensure that such incidents do not recur, the NHRC statement added further.
Meanwhile, The Calcutta High Court has asked the former principal of RG Kar Medical College Sandip Ghosh to submit a leave application by 3 pm.
This comes after Ghosh's appointment as principal of Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata immediately after his resignation triggered protests.
Sandip Ghosh resigned from the position of principal at RG Kar Medical College on Monday alleging that he was being defamed on social media platforms following the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the hospital premises.
The Chief Justice division bench of the Calcutta HC was considering several PILs in the matter on Tuesday. During the hearing, the Chief Justice questioned the appointment of the former principal.
"How can the principal - who resigned by taking moral responsibility, be appointed as the principal of another government college? The court has asked him to submit a leave application by 3 pm today or the court will pass an order for him to leave the position," the court observed.
A post-graduate trainee doctor was found dead inside the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. An investigation has established rape and murder. Reportedly, the body of the deceased bore scratch marks, indicating that there was some struggle at the time of the incident. The family has reportedly alleged that the victim was raped and murdered.
