Kolkata rape-murder LIVE: CBI to conduct polygraph test on RG Kar ex-principal, 4 others
In a major relief for patients, hundreds of resident doctors in Delhi returned to work on Friday after ending their 11-day strike following an appeal by the Supreme Court
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), that is investigating the rape and murder of a woman trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, is set to conduct a polygraph test on Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of the institution and four other people.
Unsatisfactory answers
The CBI decided to take the test after failing to get satisfactory answers from Ghosh even though he has been questioned for 88 hours in the span of week.
The agency will also conduct a polygraph test on two first-year PGT doctors whose fingerprints were found in the seminar hall where the trainee medic was allegedly raped and murdered. They were reportedly on duty along with the victim on the night of the crime and had dinner together before she retired to the seminar hall.
The CBI will also conduct polygraph test on a house staff member who was captured on CCTV while going from the first floor emergency to the third floor as well as an intern who reportedly interacted with the victim before she went the seminar hall.
Even though findings of polygraph test are not admissible in court, they help investigators get a lead on the case.
Delhi doctors withdraw protest
In a major relief for patients, hundreds of resident doctors in Delhi returned to work on Friday after ending their 11-day strike over the rape and murder following an appeal by the Supreme Court.
Healthcare professionals across the country ceased work after the body of the medic, a junior doctor, was found in a seminar room of the West Bengal government-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9.
Non-emergency services, including OPD and diagnostics, were shut as medics, including resident doctors, of major central and Delhi government-run hospitals struck work on August 12 evening, causing hardships for patients and delay in treatment. Residest doctors, including those of Centre-run AIIMS, RML Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Delhi government-run LNJP, Maulana azad Medical College, GTB Hospital and Indira Gandhi Hospital, resumed duties after two national bodies announced the end of the strike on Thursday evening. The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) and the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) took the decision after the Supreme Court issued directions about the safety of healthcare personnel.
While it appealed to medics across the country to rejoin duty and assured that no coercive action will be taken against them, the top court also said judges and doctors cannot go on a strike since they deal with matters involving life and liberty.
Bengal doctors to continue stir
Except West Bengal, resident doctors' associations of all other states have called off their strike. In Bengal, the epicentre of the protests, healthcare services remained affected at state-run hospitals as agitating junior doctors have said they would continue their ceasework.
"We have decided to continue our ceasework because justice is yet to be delivered. The Supreme Court has avoided the justice part. We must not forget that getting justice for our sister is our prime goal," one of the protesting doctors told PTI.
Extremely disturbing: SC
During Thursday’s hearing of the case, the Supreme Court termed "extremely disturbing" the Kolkata Police's delay in registering the unnatural death of the woman doctor.
“Justice and medicine cannot be stopped,” the court said while hearing the suo-motu case.
The top court also directed the Centre and the states to take urgent steps to institutionalise the safety of medics across the country.
Court’s directions on safety of medics
A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud issued a slew of directions on the safety of doctors, norms for protests, rights of protesters as well as the West Bengal government.
It said the National Task Force (NTF) formed by the apex court will take note of the suggestions of all the stakeholders while formulating a national protocol for the safety of healthcare professionals, including the associations representing resident doctors.
"We direct the secretary of the Union Ministry of Health to engage with the chief secretaries of the states and directors general of police to ensure the safety of healthcare professionals," the bench said, while ordering that the exercise be completed in a week.
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Live Updates
- 22 Aug 2024 6:09 AM GMT
Portal for NTF needed: CJI
CJI: "Point taken, there should be portal for the NTF where anonymous suggestions be given." - 22 Aug 2024 6:07 AM GMT
On 48-hour duty
Counsel: "The duty (of resident doctors) is almost 48 hours. Then you are neither in a physical nor mental state to resist if somebody teasing you, I am not even going on to serious crimes."CJI: "Your point is perfectly well taken; we will add this to our order today."SG: "All doctors in the NTF have passed through the same phase; they all know the problem." - 22 Aug 2024 5:59 AM GMT
NTF will hear all representatives: CJI
CJI on counsels' plea that resident doctors should be part of National Task Force: "Please assure the resident doctors that they will be heard by the NTF. If we ask representatives to be part of the NTF, it becomes impossible to work. There are very senior women doctor in the NTF, they have worked for a very long time in health care. Committee will ensure it will hear all representatives, we will reiterate that in our order. ...we will make a statement that resident doctors will be heard" - 22 Aug 2024 5:55 AM GMT
CJI asks doctors to return to work again
CJI asks doctors to return to work again. "We will pass some general order, please rest assured that once doctors resume duties, we will prevail upon the authorities to not take adverse actions. How will public administrative structure run if they don't resume work?" he says. - 22 Aug 2024 5:50 AM GMT
Counsels for Centre
The lawyers representing the Centre in the SC are Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, Madhav Sinhal, Arkaj Kumar, Swati Ghildiyal, MK Maroria, Advocate on Record (AOR). - 22 Aug 2024 5:48 AM GMT
21 lawyers representing Bengal govt
As many as 21 lawyers are reportedly representing the West Bengal government in Supreme Court. They are Kapil Sibal, Menaka Guruswamy, Sanjay Basu, Astha Sharma, Srisatya Mohanty, Nipun Saxena, Anju Thomas, Aparajita Jamwal, Sanjeev Kaushik, Mantika Haryani, Shreyas Awasthi, Utkarsh Pratap, Pratibha Yada, Lihzu Shiney Konyak, Ripul Swati Kumari, Lavkesh Bhanbhani, Arunisa Das, Devadipta Das, Archit Adlakha, Aditya Raj Pandey, and Mehreen Garg. - 22 Aug 2024 5:46 AM GMT
CBI submits progress report
The CBI has reportedly submitted its progress report on the RG Kar investigation in the Supreme Court ahead of the hearing today. - 22 Aug 2024 5:45 AM GMT
State bows to students' demands
The West Bengal government has removed three senior officials of the RG Kar Medical College Hospital, bowing to the demands of junior doctors who have been protesting against the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee in the state-run health facility.Following their demand, RG Kar hospital’s former principal Dr Sandip Ghosh, who was shifted to Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital as its principal, was removed from that position as well, state Health Secretary NS Nigam said on Wednesday (August 21).Alongside, three senior officials of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital were transferred to various state-run health facilities, he said.
