New Delhi/IBNS: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said the power of West Bengal government should not be unleashed on people, who are protesting against the rape and murder of 31-year-old trainee doctor at Kolkata's major state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

"It's a time of national catharsis," said the top court.

The court's directive comes a day after police lathicharged to disperse the supporters of arch-rival football clubs- East Bengal and Mohun Bagan- near Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan at EM Bypass.

The football fans had gathered to demand justice for RG Kar rape-murder victim after the Derby was called off over security reasons.

It was one of the countless protests that have swept the state, particularly Kolkata, over the last week.

Doctors, lawyers, film personalities and common people with no political affiliations have come out on streets and are holding rallies on a regular basis against the rape-murder and demanding justice for the victim.

Supreme Court blasts Bengal govt on RG Kar incident

The Supreme Court on Tuesday came down heavily upon the West Bengal government, which is at the receiving end of the public anger, over the 31-year-old lady trainee doctor's rape and murder at Kolkata's major state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital questioning the delay in filing of the First Information Report and inaction against the controversial ex-principal of the college.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud asked the government counsel why there was a three-hour delay in filing the FIR from the time (8:30 pm) when the dead body was handed over for cremation.

CJI Chandrachud said, "What was the principal, and the hospital board, doing during this time?"

"It appears crime was detected in the morning. The hospital's principal tried to pass it off as suicide and the parents were not allowed to see the body. No FIR was filed," the CJI added.

The government counsel Kabil Sibal argued the information was incorrect and the FIR was registered immediately.

The Supreme Court, which took suo-motu cognisance of the incident, has questioned the state government's reappointment of Dr. Sandip Ghosh as the principal of Calcutta National Medical College within hours after he resigned from the same post at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Dr. Ghosh was asked to take leave by the Calcutta High Court, which has directed a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the rape-murder.

The top court has asked the CBI to file a report by Thursday, the day when the next hearing has been scheduled.