The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is set to submit a progress report to the Supreme Court on the investigation into the brutal rape and murder of a female trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. This tragic incident, which involved a 31-year-old postgraduate doctor, has ignited outrage and protests across the country.

The case, which was taken up by a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra, was heard on Tuesday, August 20. The court had intervened on its own, expressing concerns over the West Bengal government’s handling of the case, as well as the vandalism that occurred at the state-run hospital. The Bengal government is expected to file a status report today on the progress of the investigation into the acts of vandalism.

On August 13, the Calcutta High Court transferred the investigation of the rape-murder case to the CBI, citing "serious lapses" in the way the RG Kar hospital administration handled the matter.

During Tuesday's Supreme Court hearing, the bench criticized the Bengal government-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital for their failures in handling the situation. Specifically, the court reprimanded former principal Dr. Sandip Ghosh for the delay in filing a First Information Report (FIR), questioning why it took hours after the cremation of the victim for the FIR to be registered. Additionally, the court took issue with the treatment of the victim's family, noting that the parents were made to wait for three hours before being allowed to see their daughter's body.

Chief Justice Chandrachud also raised concerns about the circulation of the victim’s name and photographs in the media, emphasizing that the safety of women doctors is a matter of national concern. He further highlighted that equality cannot exist without ensuring safety for all.

The court also criticized the Bengal government for appointing Dr. Ghosh as the principal of another prominent state-run medical college and hospital, just hours after he resigned as head of RG Kar hospital.

In response to the crisis, the Supreme Court has established a ten-member National Task Force (NTF) to recommend measures to ensure safer working conditions for healthcare professionals.

In a related development, the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) has approached the Supreme Court seeking interim protection for doctors while the NTF's recommendations are being implemented. FAIMA's petition urged for the installation of CCTV surveillance in key areas of medical colleges and hospitals, including entry and exit gates, corridors, and hostels, as an immediate security measure.

The petition highlighted the fear among doctors, particularly women, following the horrific incident. It stressed that many families are now reluctant to allow their daughters to take on night shifts, making enhanced security essential.

The National Federation of Resident Doctors of AIIMS also filed an intervention application with the Supreme Court, expressing concerns about the safety of resident doctors at AIIMS facilities across the country and calling for interim protective measures until the NTF's recommendations are put into place.