A significant new development has emerged in the ongoing investigation and legal proceedings surrounding the rape and murder incident of a junior doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in 2024. Following the sudden recusal of Calcutta High Court Justice Rajasekhar Mantha from the matter on personal grounds, the case has now been reassigned to a newly constituted Division Bench under the directions of Chief Justice Sujoy Paul.
From now on, all judicial proceedings related to the highly sensitive RG Kar case will be heard by a division bench comprising Justice Shampa Sarkar and Justice Tirthankar Ghosh. Legal sources indicate that the first hearing before the new bench is likely to take place as early as next Monday.
During the previous hearing, Justice Rajasekhar Mantha had made crucial observations regarding the growing complexity and public importance of the matter. The court had noted that the mounting caseload had become excessive, while public attention surrounding the RG Kar incident continued to intensify across the state. In view of the sensitivity of the case and the broader public demand for justice, the bench felt that the matter required a dedicated judicial forum capable of devoting adequate time and attention to every aspect of the proceedings.
Justice Mantha had also emphasised his own desire to ensure that justice was delivered without any scope for oversight or procedural gaps. According to the observations made in court, every petition connected to the case — including those filed by the victim’s family, the convicted individuals, and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) — deserved detailed and comprehensive consideration. The transfer of the matter to another bench was therefore viewed as a procedural step aimed at facilitating a prolonged and meticulous hearing process.
Meanwhile, amid escalating political and legal tensions over the case, indications have surfaced regarding a major move by the state government. According to sources in administrative circles, the state is considering the formation of a high-level Judicial Commission to investigate the broader circumstances surrounding the RG Kar incident.
The proposed move is being viewed by political observers as part of the new government’s broader commitment to reopening and reassessing several high-profile controversies in the state. Prior to assuming power, leaders of the BJP had repeatedly promised a transparent and impartial investigation into issues such as the RG Kar case and the incidents in Sandeshkhali.
According to political analysts, the possible formation of a Judicial Commission under the leadership of the new administration headed by Suvendu Adhikari could mark the first concrete step toward fulfilling the government’s earlier pledge to “open all files” connected to major controversies in the state.
At present, the criminal investigation into the RG Kar incident is already being conducted by the CBI under judicial oversight. If the state proceeds with the formation of a parallel Judicial Commission, the case could enter a new and more complex phase, with two simultaneous investigative processes operating side by side.
Legal experts believe that such a development may significantly influence the future trajectory of the RG Kar case, potentially reshaping both the political and judicial dimensions of one of West Bengal’s most closely watched legal battles in recent years.
Follow us
