New Delhi: The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday allowed the West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to stage a demonstration for five days starting from August 21 near Shyambazar metro station in the state capital to protest against the rape and murder of a woman doctor in RG Medical College and Hospital on August 9.
While West Bengal BJP sought permission for six days to hold protest, State urged court to allow for only one day
While the counsel representing the West Bengal BJP sought permission for six days to hold a protest against the alleged rape and murder of the woman starting Wednesday at the proposed venue, which is around a half kilometer away from RG Medical College and Hospital, the counsel representing the State of West Bengal urged the High Court to allow the demonstration for a day only.
Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj, after hearing submission from the West Bengal BJP and the State, allowed the former the stage the sit-in at the proposed venue for five days from August 21. The High Court directed that the demonstration be held from 12 noon to 9 pm every day from Wednesday to Sunday with not more than 300 participants, news agency PTI reported.
The body of the woman doctor, a second-year PG medical student, was found inside the seminar hall of the hospital on August 9. Reports later indicated that she was sexually assaulted before her murder.
The incident has sparked nationwide outrage, including outrage from the medical community and medical services across the country have been affected following strike by doctors, demanding justice for the victim and strengthening of security in medical colleges and hospitals.
Calcutta HC transferred probe into the incident to CBI
The investigation into the incident was initially carried out by the Kolkata Police, however, the High Court transferred the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a bunch of pleas seeking transfer of the case to the central agency, including the parents of the victim.
Apex Court on Tuesday set up a 10-member national task force to deal with issue of violence against medical professionals
The Supreme Court also on its own accord took cognisance of the matter last week and a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Tuesday expressed its deep concern at the incident and safety of doctors across the country and also expressed unhappiness with the Kolkata Police and the state government over the unexplained delay in filing a case of murder and rape in the incident. The top court also constituted a 10 member National Task Force to formulate a national protocol for ensuring safety and facilities to doctors and healthcare staff in hospitals, securing hospitals from unruly persons, adequate rest rooms and duty rooms for doctors and healthcare staff.