Calcutta High Court Bench Withdraws From Hearing RG Kar Medical College Case
Calcutta High Court bench recuses from RG Kar case, citing workload while CBI submits status report.
The Calcutta High Court on Monday witnessed a fresh development in the ongoing RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case, as the bench headed by Justice Rajasekhar Mantha recused itself from hearing the matter, citing workload constraints and the need for a more dedicated forum to examine the case.
The bench observed that there was a significant surplus of cases before the court and noted that, in the interest of justice, the matter should be heard by a bench that could devote adequate time to its detailed consideration. The decision effectively pauses proceedings before this particular bench, though the case remains active within the judicial system.
The court also took note of a status report submitted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which it had earlier accepted. In previous hearings, the bench had indicated that the CBI was free to interrogate the convicted individual as well as other suspects if required, emphasising that the agency had full authority to pursue all necessary lines of inquiry to advance the investigation.
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The RG Kar case, which has drawn widespread public and legal attention, involves the rape and murder of a woman doctor whose body was discovered on August 9, 2024, at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The incident led to the arrest of civic volunteer Sanjay Roy the following day by Kolkata Police, after which the investigation was later transferred to the CBI following a Calcutta High Court order.
Subsequently, the Sealdah court delivered its verdict on January 18, 2025, finding Roy guilty. He was later sentenced to life imprisonment on January 20, 2025, by Judge Anirban Das. Even before the trial concluded at the lower court, the victim’s family had moved the High Court, raising concerns about the investigation and seeking an expedited hearing.
The case has seen multiple judicial benches step away at different stages due to time constraints or procedural overlaps, including a previous instance in March 2025 when a division bench headed by Justice Debangshu Basak also recused itself. The matter eventually reached the Supreme Court, which directed that the High Court continue hearing the case.
With the latest recusal, the case is expected to be listed before another bench of the Calcutta High Court in the coming days, as the legal proceedings continue amid sustained public and institutional scrutiny.
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