Daijiworld Media Network- Kolkata
Kolkata, Jan 21: In a detailed judgment spanning 172 pages, Judge Anirban Das of a Kolkata court sentenced Sanjoy Roy, the convict in the RG Kar rape-murder case, to life imprisonment instead of the death penalty. The decision reflects the judicial system's adherence to balancing the principles of justice, reformative possibilities, and the sanctity of human life, even in cases of brutal crimes.
The court highlighted significant lapses in the handling of the case by both the police and the hospital authorities. Judge Das criticized the indifferent attitude of the Tala Police Station, where officers failed to take prompt and appropriate action, complicating the investigation. The victim’s father faced unnecessary hurdles in lodging a complaint, with accusations of cover-ups and procedural neglect directed at the police.
The hospital authority also came under scrutiny for its attempts to prematurely label the victim's death as suicide, which the court described as an "illegal dream" to avoid accountability. Junior doctors' protests played a pivotal role in ensuring the case was properly investigated.
The court affirmed the prosecution's ability to establish Sanjoy Roy's guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Evidence confirmed Roy's presence at the scene of the crime, and his failure to provide a credible alternative explanation cemented his culpability. The court noted that the absence of a clear motive did not weaken the case, as the crime appeared to be impulsive rather than premeditated.
The court acknowledged the heinous nature of the crime but emphasized the strict criteria required for imposing the death penalty. Drawing from the landmark Bachan Singh vs State of Punjab (1980) judgment, Judge Das reiterated that life imprisonment is the rule, with the death penalty reserved for the "rarest of rare" cases.
The judgment underscored the importance of considering the potential for the convict's reformation and rehabilitation. It also stressed the judiciary's role in upholding justice through reasoned decision-making, free from public sentiment or emotional appeals.
"Justice must rise above primitive instincts of revenge," the judgment stated, emphasizing that the measure of a civilized society lies in its capacity to reform and heal rather than perpetuate brutality.