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RG Kar Rape-Murder Case: The Kolkata court which sentenced Sanjay Roy to life imprisionment said that the modern justice system must rise above the instinct of “an eye for an eye.”
RG Kar rape and murder case convict Sanjay Roy sent to life imprisonment | Image/ANI
RG Kar Rape-Murder Case: The Kolkata court which refused to award the death penalty to Sanjay Roy, but sentenced him to life imprisonment, for the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the city’s RG Kar Hospital last year, said that the modern justice system must rise above the instinct of “an eye for an eye.”
The court order came as CBI, the family of the victim and doctors demanded for death penalty for Sanjay Roy, claiming that life imprisonment punishment is not enough and that they would approach the higher court with their demand.
Sealdah Court judge Anirban Das held that the case doesn’t fall into the “rarest of the rare” category, which could have led to a death sentence for Roy, and sentenced the convict to life imprisonment till death. The court also ordered him to pay Rs 10 lakh to the trainee doctor’s family.
“In the realm of modern justice, we must rise above the primitive instinct of an eye for an eye or a tooth for a tooth or nail for a nail or a life for a life,” the court order accessed by CNN-News18 read.
The measure of a civilized society lies not in its ability to exact revenge, but in its capacity to reform, rehabilitate and ultimately heal, the court added in its judgement on RG Kar’s rape and murder case.
‘Public Emotion Must Not Influence Court’
Explaining his decision of not awarding capital punishment to the convict, Justice Das held that the judiciary’s primary responsibility is to uphold the rule of law and ensure justice based on evidence, not public sentiment.
“It is of prime importance that the court maintain its objectivity and impartiality by focusing solely on the facts and evidence presented during the trial, rather than being swayed by public opinion or emotional reactions to the case,” he said.
Sanjay Roy Escapes Death Penalty
Sealdah Court judge Anirban Das explained his decision of not considering the RG Kar rape and murder case as rarest of rare by noting that the crime, although heinous, did not qualify for the factors set to define “rarest of the rare” case.
“I think this is not a case of rarest of the rare. That’s why I am giving you imprisonment till your death,” the judge said while announcing the quantum of punishment for Sanjay Roy.
The judge said that sentencing should rely on the evidence presented and pointed out that Sanjoy Roy had already provided extensive statements during his three-hour questioning by the lawyers. “The verdict would be based on the evidence presented,” Justice Das had clarified before pronouncing the judgment.
Roy was convicted in the rape and murder case on Saturday, with Justice Das informing him that the minimum sentence being faced by him was life imprisonment, while the maximum sentence could be the death penalty.
The body of the female postgraduate trainee was discovered in a seminar hall at the hospital in the early hours of August 9, 2024. She was killed after being raped. Sanjay Roy, a civic volunteer, was arrested the following day in connection with the crime. Later, the CBI took over the investigation and filed a charge sheet related to the case, paving the way for Roy’s conviction.