RG Kar Hospital Rape and Murder Case: SC Asks West Bengal Government, How And By Whom Civic Police Volunteers Are Recruited?

Today (October 15, 2024), While hearing the RG Kar Hospital Rape and Murder case, the Supreme Court (SC) of India directed the West Bengal Government to provide information on the details of the recruitment process for hiring civic volunteers in the State Police force. This order was passed by the SC after noting that Sanjay Roy, the accused in the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital Rape and Murder case in Kolkata, was a civil police volunteer. The matter was heard by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra. While seeking data from the State of West Bengal, the CJI said allowing unverified recruitment of civic volunteers could lead to conferring power through political bias. The bench said, “Who recruits these civic volunteers. We need to know what are these qualifications. We need to know that such volunteers do not operate in hospitals, schools which are sensitive in nature.” In the order, the top court directed the State to furnish certain aspects in its affidavit on the next hearing which are mentioned as follows:

• “The legal source of authority for recruitment of civic volunteers in the State; 
• The modalities for recruitment; 
• The qualifications for recruitment; 
• The verifications carried out before the recruitment is made; 
• The institutions in which they are assigned duties; 
• The payments made to civic volunteers on daily and monthly basis and the budget outlay.”

Furthermore, it clarified that “...specifically disclose the process which is followed to recruit the civic volunteers and the steps taken to ensure that such volunteers do not operate in any event where sensitive establishments such as hospitals and schools which may be particularly vulnerable." During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Karuna Nundy appeared for a doctor’s association, Advocate Vrinda Grover represented the parents of the victim, and Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi appeared for the State. After hearing the matter and passing the order, the CJI concluded today’s hearing and said, “We will take up the issue after the Diwali break now.”