HC allows sit-in by doctors' forum seeking justice for RG Kar hospital victim

Calcutta High Court allows doctors' protest near Dorina crossing, Kolkata, for justice in medic's rape-murder case.

The Calcutta High Court on Friday (December 20, 2024) allowed an organisation of doctors to hold a demonstration from December 20-26 to press for speedy justice for the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital medic, who was allegedly raped and murdered in August.

The court, however, directed the Joint Forum of Doctors to hold the protest programme at a place, 50 feet away from Dorina crossing at Esplanade in central Kolkata, as that would cause traffic snarls in the busy area.

The doctors' body had proposed to hold the round-the-clock sit-in at Dorina Crossing, a busy intersection in the heart of the city.

Passing the order, Justice Tirthankar Ghosh said that since the organisers are doctors, they would take into account if there is any hardship created to people commuting in the area while holding the demonstration.

The lawyer representing the West Bengal government objected to the proposed site at Dorina crossing for holding the demonstration, claiming that it would cause traffic congestion in the area.

During the hearing of the petition, Justice Ghosh observed that while the administration allows some organisations to hold programmes at the site, it does not give permission to others.

He said there should not be double standards on the part of the administration, and the State can come up with a notification prohibiting all programmes in certain areas.