PM Modi Calls For Swift Justice In Recent Rape Cases: What Are The Next Steps?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently addressed the inaugural session of a national conference of the district judiciary, which was also attended by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud. Addressing the session, PM Modi emphasised the importance of delivering swift justice in cases involving crimes against women, highlighting that such actions would provide greater reassurance regarding their safety. His remarks come amidst widespread outrage over recent incidents, including the alleged murder and rape of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital and the sexual assault of two kindergarten girls in Thane.

PM Modi Speaks On Women's Safety, Calls For Swift Justice In Recent Cases

PM Modi stated, "Today, atrocities against women, and the safety of children are serious concerns of the society. The faster justice is delivered in cases of atrocities against women, the greater assurance half of the population will have about their safety."

The Prime Minister also pointed out that while there are stringent laws in place to combat crimes against women, there is a need for better coordination within the criminal justice system to ensure that justice is delivered swiftly.

CJI Chandrachud's Statement On Women's Safety

The Supreme Court of India took suo moto cognisance of the rape-murder case of a 31-year-old Kolkata doctor at her workplace, RG Kar Medical College Hospital. The woman was found dead in the seminar hall on campus on August 9. Here are the developments in the trial.

The Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, made an impactful statement while addressing the rape-murder case. "If women are not able to go to work and conditions are not safe, we are denying them equality," he said. "As more and more women join the workforce, the nation cannot wait for another rape for things to change on the ground."

The CJI also cited the 1973 Aruna Shanbaug case to highlight the attacks on women medical professionals over the years. Shanbaug was a nurse who was raped and strangulated with a dog chain by a male attendant. The incident left her with severe brain damage, plunging her into a persistent vegetative state (PVS) in which she remained for 42 years until she died in 2015.

"Medical professions have become vulnerable to violence due to ingrained patriarchal biases, and the women doctors are targeted more," CJI Chandrachud said. He emphasised the need for more safety protocols in healthcare facilities. "We know they are all interns, resident doctors and most importantly women doctors....most of the young doctors are putting in 36 hours....we must evolve a national protocol to ensure safe conditions of work are provided."

Appeal To Doctors, Call For Safety

The bench also asked doctors across India to end their strike as health services suffered. The CJI assured the medical community that the court would take sustainable steps to ensure their demands for safety are met. "We want the doctors to trust us. Their safety and protection is a matter of highest national concern," he said.

The SC bench also criticised the fact that the name of the victim is being published in the media. "We are deeply concerned of the fact that the name of the victim has been all over the media, the photographs and videos are all over the media, this is extremely concerning… Is this the way we provide dignity to the young doctor who has lost her life?" CJI Chandrachud said.

CJI Chandrachud Raises Concern Over Handling Of Case

CJI Chandrachud expressed concern over the delay in registering an FIR related to the incident. “Parents were not in the hospital when the incident took place. The onus was on the hospital to register a case”, the Chief Justice asserted. He also grilled the West Bengal government over delays.

“What was the principal doing? FIR was not filed; the body was handed late to parents; what are the police doing? A serious offence has taken place, the crime scene has taken in hospital...what are they doing? Allowing vandalists to enter the hospital?" he questioned.

SC Sets Up National Task Force

The Supreme Court set up a 10-member National Task Force on Day 1 of the hearing to look into the modalities needed to ensure the safety of healthcare professionals across India.  The SC stated that the NTF needed to look into providing an enforceable national protocol for dignified and safe working conditions for interns, residents, senior residents, doctors etc.

The Force is expected to ensure safety in the hospital, infrastructural development, employment of social welfare workers trained in grief and crisis counselling, and workshops on handling grief and crisis. The NTF has been directed to submit an interim report in 3 weeks with suggestions on ensuring doctors' safety and acting on the guidelines set by the court. The SC also ordered to ensure that the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Against Women at the Workplace Act (POSH) was followed in hospitals, nursing homes and private healthcare facilities.

CISF Task Force To Be Deployed At RG Kar

The Supreme Court directed the deployment of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel to provide security at the tension-ridden RG Kar Hospital. The hospital was vandalised by a mob on August 14, due to which the apex court has asked for added security, especially since many resident doctors have emptied the buildings.

50 FIRs have been filed in the vandalism case, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, remarking that this was more of a recipe for ‘not investigating the rape-murder case'. Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal added that 37 individuals have been arrested for the vandalism.

SC Asks State Governments To Submit Report

CJI Chandrachud asked all States to collect data on the number of security personnel employed at each hospital; total resting rooms, in the hospital, information on whether all areas of the hospital are accessible to the general public, and other relevant questions.

The states are supposed to submit a report in one month. The Central Bureau of Investigation is also expected to submit an interim report by August 22. Additionally, the West Bengal government has been ordered to submit a report on August 22 on the mob vandalism at RG Kar Hospital.