Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud delivered a sharp critique of the use of social media in legal arguments during a hearing on Thursday related to the brutal rape and murder case of a 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital. The case has drawn significant public attention and controversy.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, leading a three-judge bench, addressed a lawyer’s reference to a post-mortem report that purportedly mentioned “151 mg of semen” found in the victim. The lawyer had used this detail to argue the presence of gang rape. Chief Justice Chandrachud rebuked the use of social media as a basis for court arguments, emphasizing the importance of relying on verified documents rather than internet rumors. “Don’t confuse this. Don’t use social media to make arguments in court. We have specifically now the post-mortem report before us and we know what that 151 refers to,” he said.
Earlier reports suggesting that 150 mg of semen was found in the victim’s body had sparked rumors and confusion, leading some to believe in a gang rape scenario. These claims had been derived from a petition filed by the victim’s family in the Calcutta High Court. Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal had refuted these claims, emphasizing the misinformation spread through various media channels. “Someone said 150 gm semen is found. I don’t know where they have found this kind of Information,” Goyal had stated.
The Supreme Court also took Kolkata Police to task for their handling of the case. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra questioned the 14-hour delay in registering the First Information Report (FIR) following the crime. The bench scrutinized the procedural delays and sought explanations for the lapse. “Who was in touch with the principal of RG Kar Medical College? Why did he delay the FIR? What was the purpose?” the bench inquired.
The victim, a postgraduate trainee doctor, was found dead in a seminar hall at RG Kar Hospital on August 9. The medical examination confirmed that she had been raped. Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer, was arrested a day after the incident, but the case was later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) due to concerns over the Kolkata Police’s progress in the investigation.
This case has highlighted the critical need for accurate and responsible reporting and handling of sensitive information in legal proceedings.
