RG Kar Hearing: Sibal Urges To Stop Livestream Citing Rape Threats To Lawyers, CJI Assures Safety

New Delhi: Amid hearing on the Kolkata rape-murder case, senior advocate Kapil Sibal urged the Supreme Court to halt the live streaming of the hearing, citing threats received by his female colleagues representing the West Bengal government. However, the Chief Justice denied the request, emphasising that live streaming was in the public interest and assured Sibal of safety.

A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, Justices J B Pardiwala, and Manoj Misra proceeded to the hearing, when, Sibal said, "I have great concerns at what is happening... when a matter is live-streamed like this which has emotive implications... we are not here for the accused, we appear for the state and as soon as the court is making a comment, our reputation is getting destroyed overnight."

"We will not stop the live-streaming, it is in the public interest, it's an open court," the CJI responded.

"There are threats to women in my chamber and then there are posts about me laughing. When did I laugh? it is being said that acid will be thrown at them and they (will be) raped. People on the ground are saying this," said Sibal trying to press the matter.

To this, the CJI assured the senior advocate of safety saying, "Is there a threat to any woman? woman or man appearing in the matter. We will take care of that."

'Why Limit Women?': SC Pulls Up Bengal Government Over No Night Shift Notification

During the hearing, CJI Chandrachud tightened its grip over the Mamata government for its notification advising state-run hospitals to avoid assigning night shifts to women doctors, saying that the state is responsible for ensuring their security and asked it to amend it.

Chief Justice Chandrachud questioned the logic behind the decision, stating, "How can you say women cannot work at night? Why limit women doctors? They don't want concessions. Women are ready to work in the same shifts."

Addressing Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the West Bengal government, the CJI added, "Mr Sibal, the solution is to provide security. West Bengal should correct this notification. It is your duty to ensure safety; you cannot restrict women from working at night. Pilots, soldiers, everyone works at night."

RG Kar 'Financial Irregularities': SC Asks CBI to File Status Report

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the CBI to submit a status report on the probe into alleged financial irregularities at the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata where the 31-year-old trainee doctor was raped and murdered last month.

The top court also perused the status report filed by the probe agency concerning the case and said that disclosing the status would ‘ jeopardise further investigation.’

(Inputs from PTI)