Justice Rajasekhar Mantha's bench at the Calcutta High Court has recused itself from hearing the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital rape and murder case, citing a surplus of pending matters and the need for a bench that can dedicate adequate time to the proceedings. The development, reported on 12 May, marks the latest in a series of judicial transitions that have complicated the family's pursuit of justice since the incident in August 2024.

Why the Bench Stepped Back

Justice Mantha's bench noted that the volume of cases before it made it difficult to give the RG Kar matter the attention it warranted. In the interest of justice, the bench expressed the opinion that the case should be transferred to a bench capable of dedicating sufficient time. The West Bengal state government is reportedly likely to constitute a judicial commission to address aspects of the case.

Notably, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had submitted a status report to the court, which was accepted. In a prior hearing, Justice Mantha's bench had stated that the CBI could interrogate Sanjay Roy — the convicted civic volunteer — and other suspects to advance the investigation.

A Pattern of Bench Changes

This is not the first time a bench has stepped away from the case. In March 2025, the division bench of Justice Debangshu Basak also withdrew, citing an inability to allocate time to the matter. The victim's family had sought an early hearing but was unable to secure a full hearing before that bench. Justice Basak's bench ultimately decided to leave the case on the same grounds of time constraints.

Earlier, the family had approached Justice Tirthankar Ghosh of the High Court, raising questions about the CBI's investigation. Justice Ghosh declined to hear the petition, noting that the RG Kar case was simultaneously being heard in the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court's Intervention

The victim's parents subsequently filed the same petition before the Supreme Court, where a hearing was held. However, the then Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, questioned why the petition should be entertained at the apex court level and directed the matter back to the High Court. The case has been heard at the Calcutta High Court since that ruling.

Background: The RG Kar Case

The body of the female doctor was recovered on 9 August 2024 at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Civic Volunteer Sanjay Roy was arrested by the Kolkata Police the following day. The CBI subsequently took over the investigation on the orders of the Calcutta High Court. On 18 January 2025, the Sealdah court announced its verdict, finding Roy guilty. Judge Anirban Das sentenced him to life imprisonment on 20 January 2025.

Despite the conviction, the victim's family continues to press questions about the completeness of the CBI investigation through the courts. With Justice Mantha's bench now also stepping aside, the case will need to be assigned to yet another bench — raising concerns about continuity and the pace of proceedings.