NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has expressed serious concern over the politicization of the August 9 rape and murder of a resident doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. During a hearing on Thursday, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, criticized both the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the West Bengal government for engaging in a blame game influenced by statements from political leaders. The Court specifically disapproved of remarks made by leaders from both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC), urging that such a sensitive issue should not be exploited for political gain.
The Court highlighted inflammatory comments made by a West Bengal minister, who warned that “fingers pointing towards Mamata Banerjee will be chopped off,” as well as a retaliatory statement from the leader of the opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, who threatened that “bullets will be fired.” The Court emphasized that the law must be allowed to take its course without political interference.
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Additionally, the Supreme Court addressed the concerns of doctors nationwide who had protested in response to the incident, ordering that no coercive measures be taken against them. The Court stressed that while the safety and welfare of doctors are paramount, they must also resume their duties to ensure that public health services are not disrupted. The Bench made it clear that any legal actions related to past protests would not be pursued if the doctors returned to work immediately.
The Court underscored the importance of continuous service in critical professions such as law and medicine, noting that judges and doctors cannot afford to go on strike, as their work directly impacts life and liberty. This statement referred to ongoing protests by doctors from institutions like the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), who were assured that no punitive actions would be taken if they ceased their protests by the Court’s order.