SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Jan 20: Doctors’ associations in Jharkhand have voiced their dissatisfaction with the life imprisonment handed to Sanjay Roy, the accused in the rape and murder of a junior female doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata.
A Sealdah court in West Bengal announced the verdict today, sentencing Roy to life imprisonment and ordering the state government to provide Rs 17 lakh as compensation to the victim’s family. The victim, a trainee doctor, was raped and murdered on August 9, 2024, while on night duty at the hospital.
Doctors’ organizations across medical colleges in Jharkhand had strongly condemned the incident, launching widespread protests to demand justice for the victim. The agitation significantly disrupted OPD services in medical colleges for several days.
Doctors Demand Harsher Punishment
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Junior Doctors Network (JDN) state general secretary, Dr. Raghvendra Kumar, stated that the crime warranted a death sentence. “This heinous crime deserves the harshest punishment. Additionally, the compensation of Rs 17 lakh is inadequate. While no amount can replace a doctor’s life, the compensation should have been higher,” he said.
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Dr. Abhishek Laguri, executive president of the Junior Doctors Association (JDA) at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi, acknowledged the agitation that brought attention to the case. “We protested for justice, and while compensation cannot heal the family’s pain, the court has delivered justice,” he remarked.
Calls for Stricter Justice in ‘Rarest of Rare’ Case
JDA vice-president, Dr. Abhishek Hansdak, expressed dissatisfaction with the court’s decision, questioning why the punishment was limited to life imprisonment despite the imposition of stringent sections under the Indian Penal Code. “Sections 64, 66, and 103, which typically lead to a death sentence, were applied, yet only life imprisonment was awarded,” he said.
Other doctors echoed similar sentiments. Dr. Sneha Sharma and Dr. Madhvita Singh, representatives of the Junior Doctors Association at MGMMCH Jamshedpur, called for stricter punishment for what they termed a “rarest of rare” crime.
Similarly, Dr. Junaid, a JDN member at Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College Hospital (SNMMCH), Dhanbad, stated, “We had hoped for a death sentence. However, the justice system has at least ensured some accountability.”
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Awaiting Detailed Study of Court Order
Ranchi Central Institute of Psychiatry media secretary, Dr. Avinash Vipin, refrained from immediate comment, stating that the association would study the court’s detailed order before making a formal statement.
The case has reignited debates over justice for crimes against medical professionals, with many doctors in Jharkhand continuing to demand stricter penalties for such offences.
