Must rise above primitive instinct of ‘a life for a life’, says Sessions Judge sentencing R.G. Kar convict

Judge spares convict from death penalty in rape and murder case, emphasising reform over revenge and justice based on evidence.

Sparing the hangman’s noose for the convict in the rape and murder of a postgraduate doctor at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, the Additional District and Sessions court Judge, Sealdah, noted in his order on Monday that society must rise above the primitive instinct of “a life for a life”.

“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’. Our duty is not to match brutality with brutality, but to elevate humanity through wisdom, compassion and a deeper understanding of justice,” the Judge noted in the order.

Kolkata doctor rape and murder case sentencing highlights

Judge Anirban Das who has been hearing the case that triggered widespread outrage over the gruesome crime at a State-run facility on August 9 said that the “measure of a civilised society lies not in its ability to exact revenge but in its capacity to reform, rehabilitate, and ultimately to heal”. The court on Monday sentenced Sanjay Roy, the convict in the rape and murder of a doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, to life imprisonment.

Not only parents of the victim doctor, members of the civil society and protesting doctors as well as functionaries in high Constitutional offices like the Chief Minister as also the Leader of Opposition seemed to have swayed by public sentiment and pressed forth on the demand for capital punishment of the convict Sanjay Roy. The court, however, gave more emphasis on delivering justice based on evidence and maintaining its objectivity.

“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,” the order by the Judge Das said.

The court also underlined that it must “resist the temptation to bow to public pressure or emotional appeals and instead focus on delivering a verdict that upholds the integrity of the legal system and serves the broader interests of justice”.