In a stinging rebuke, the Supreme Court of India lambasted the West Bengal police for their alleged failure to protect women doctors during a violent mob attack at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 15. The attack followed the tragic rape and murder of a 31-year-old doctor at the college, leading to widespread outrage.
The bench, led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra, expressed deep concern over the apparent inaction of the police during the chaos. After reviewing a complaint from the doctors, the Court ordered the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to take over security duties at the hospital.
“This is a very serious issue,” the CJI stated, addressing Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who was representing West Bengal. The Court questioned how the police could have fled the scene, leaving the doctors vulnerable, especially when the threat of such unrest was foreseeable.
The justices were particularly disturbed by reports that female doctors were singled out by name and threatened with the same fate as their deceased colleague. Despite the arrest of 37 individuals identified through CCTV footage, the Court was not satisfied with the state’s response.
During the hearing, it was revealed that the situation at the hospital had deteriorated to the point where parents were unwilling to send their daughters back to the medical college due to safety concerns. The Court also took note of a report indicating that police were found inside a female changing room during the incident.
To address the growing crisis, the Court established a National Task Force to focus on the safety and well-being of medical professionals across the country. As the hearing concluded, the justices emphasized the need for immediate action, ordering the CISF to assume control of the hospital’s security and ensure the protection of all medical staff.
