Trial in WB rape-murder case to end in month: SC

The trial in the rape and murder of a doctor at RG Kar Medical College Hospital, Kolkata, was likely to conclude in a month, the Supreme Court said on Tuesday.

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After perusing the CBI’s latest status report, a Bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar noted the trial was progressing on a daily basis — Monday to Thursday — at the Special CBI Court, Sealdah, and of the total 81 witnesses, the prosecution had already recorded the testimonies of 43 witnesses.

The top court — which had on August 18 taken suo motu cognisance of the horrific incident — directed the parties to share their suggestions on preventing gender-based violence and developing safety protocols for doctors and medical staff at hospitals with the court-appointed National Task Force (NTF).

Asking the NTF to file its report in 12 weeks, the Bench posted the matter for further hearing on March 17, 2025. However, it clarified that the parties to the case could seek an early hearing, if the trial was delayed.

Set up to suggest measures to ensure safety of medical professionals, the NTF had last month told the Supreme Court that no separate central law was required to deal with violence against them as existing state laws and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 have adequate safeguards.