SC flays Bengal Police, objects to publication of victim's name
RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Supreme Court on Tuesday said that it was time for a «national catharsis» and that «the nation cannot await a rape or murder for real changes on the ground». It also made a fervent appeal to protesting doctors to resume work.
A bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud flayed the West Bengal Police for its inaction — registering an FIR «belatedly» and its sheer inability to deal with vandals who allegedly threatened women doctors.
«We are unable to comprehend how the state was not prepared to deal with the incident of vandalisation,» the CJI verbally remarked. «The hospital is invaded. Critical facilities were damaged… A very serious offence has taken place,» the CJI said, adding that the first thing the police has to do is to protect the crime scene.
West Bengal government's counsel said a case of unnatural death was immediately registered after the incident was reported. The bench retorted: «A UD is not an FIR. It is only a report.» SC was informed that the FIR was registered at 11:45 pm. «The autopsy would reveal that she has been murdered. Nobody in the hospital registers FIR. What were the hospital authorities and principal and vice principal doing,» SC said.
The CJI verbally remarked that SC is «very very concerned» about the safety of protesters. «Let the power of West Bengal Police be not leashed on peaceful protesters,» the CJI verbally said, adding «so long as there is no act of destruction (by the protesters)». He asked the state government counsel to direct the police
