As the trial nears a close, the Supreme Court directed stakeholders to respond to the Task Force’s report

States, union territories and stakeholders directed to submit their suggestions on the NTF’s report within three weeks

The Court also received updates from the West Bengal government and directed it to detail how civic volunteers are hired within three weeks

The Court’s Monsoon Session saw reduced Constitution Bench activity, bail orders for opposition leaders and suo moto cases

The monsoon winds brought with them two Constitution Bench decisions, several suo moto cases and a shifting trend in PMLA bail jurisprudence

The bench reviewed the CBI’s fourth status report in the case and stressed that the deceased doctor’s identity be protected

The court noted that judges had to be aware of their predispositions to deliver fair and objective decisions

Everything that happened at the Supreme Court over five days of hearings in the R.G. Kar rape and murder case

Junior doctors informed the bench that they would return to work if “confidence-building” measures are undertaken by the state government

The Court has also directed the CBI to file a fresh status report by 17 September clarifying the discrepancies pointed out by the Court

Constitution Bench cases on affirmative action, mining taxes, arbitration and driving licences dominated the Court’s docket in August

It may be cynical to view the Supreme Court’s suo moto cognisance of the Kolkata rape and murder case merely as an optics game