The Supreme Court on
Thursday termed extremely disturbing the Kolkata Police's delay in registering
the unnatural death of the woman doctor who was raped and murdered at the RG
Kar Medical College and Hospital. It also asked protesting doctors to resume work
and assured them that no adverse action would be taken after they rejoin.
Questioning the sequence and timing of legal formalities conducted by police, a
bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said it was very surprising that
the postmortem of the deceased was conducted on August 9 between 6.10 pm to
7.10 pm before the registration of case as unnatural death.
"How was it that
the post-mortem was conducted at 6.10 pm on August 9 and yet the unnatural
death information is sent to Tala police station at 11.30 pm on August 9. This
is extremely disturbing," the bench, also comprising Justice J B Pardiwala
and Manoj Misra, said.
It
directed the Kolkata Police officer, who registered the first entry about the
rape-murder that has shocked the country, to appear in the next hearing and
disclose the time of the entry.
Solicitor
General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, told the top court that the most
shocking fact is that the FIR was registered at 11.45 pm after the postgraduate
medic was cremated.
"State
police told parents it was suicide, then they said it was murder. Victim's
friend suspected cover up and insisted on videography," Mehta told the
bench.
As
the hearing commenced, the top court asked protesting doctors to resume work,
and assured them that no adverse action will be taken against them after they
rejoin.
The
apex court was told by the counsel for resident doctors at AIIMS Nagpur that
they are being victimised for protesting over the Kolkata rape-murder case.
"Once
they get back to duty, we will prevail upon authorities to not take adverse
action. How will public health infrastructure run if the doctors do not
work?" the bench asked.
If
there is difficulty after that, come to us but let them first report to work,
it said.
The
top court said its heart goes out to all patients visiting public hospitals.
It
assured doctors' associations that the National Task Force will hear all
stakeholders.
The
brutal assault and murder of the junior doctor has sparked nationwide protests.
Her body was found with severe injury marks inside the seminar hall of the
state-run hospital's chest department. A civic volunteer was arrested by the
Kolkata Police in connection with the case the following day on August 10.
On
August 13, the Calcutta High Court ordered the transfer of the probe from the
Kolkata Police to the CBI, which started its investigation on August 14.