Mamata govt approach HC demanding death penalty in RG Kar case

The West Bengal government has moved the Calcutta High Court to challenge the life imprisonment sentence handed to Sanjay Roy, the convict in the RG Kar rape-murder case. Roy, a former civic volunteer, was convicted by a Sessions Court on January 20, for the rape and murder of an on-duty trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata in August 2024. The state government is seeking the death penalty, arguing that the crime is particularly heinous and should fall under the "rarest of rare" category, which warrants capital punishment.

The Sessions Court had sentenced Roy to life imprisonment, despite finding him guilty of the crime. The court reasoned that while the crime was "particularly heinous," it did not meet the threshold of being "rarest of rare," a legal criterion for imposing the death penalty. Judge Anirban Das, in his detailed 172-page judgment, emphasized that modern judicial principles must balance retributive punishment with the goals of reformative justice and the sanctity of human life. He stressed that decisions should be based on evidence rather than public sentiment, and that the judiciary must avoid being swayed by emotional appeals.

In response to the trial court's decision, Advocate General Kishore Dutta filed the appeal in the Calcutta High Court. The state government is arguing that the crime, which involved the brutal assault and murder of the young doctor, is severe enough to warrant the death penalty. The appeal was filed before a division bench headed by Justice Debangshu Basak, which allowed the matter to be brought before the court. The high court will now review the appeal and decide whether to uphold the trial court's verdict or modify the sentence.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has voiced her dissatisfaction with the trial court's ruling. She has described the case as "rare, sensitive, and heinous," and asserted that the death penalty is necessary to prevent future offenses. Banerjee also pointed out that her government had passed the Aparajita Bill in the Bengal Assembly to protect the dignity of women, though the bill is pending approval at the Centre. She stated that the state’s role is to ensure justice and not protect criminals.

The RG Kar case came to light on August 9, 2024, when the body of the trainee doctor was found in her hostel room at the RG Kar Medical College. Initially investigated by the Kolkata Police, the case was later transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after allegations of mishandling by the local police and following protests by doctors. The case attracted national attention, with demands for swift justice for the victim.

In addition to the conviction, the Sessions Court ordered a compensation of ₹17 lakh to the victim's family. However, the victim’s parents rejected the financial assistance, stating that they did not seek monetary compensation but only justice for their daughter's death. They have remained firm in their stance, emphasizing that the crime was so severe that the punishment should be a reflection of its gravity.