Hindi English Translation || Editorial || ​Murder most foul: On the R.G. Kar case

​Murder most foul: On the R.G. Kar case

Making India safe for all must be a priority for state (राज्य, सरकार) authorities (अधिकारी)

The conviction (दोषसिद्धि) of a former civic police volunteer on Saturday (January 18, 2025) in the rape and murder of a second-year postgraduate trainee doctor in Kolkata has brought some closure to her parents, but the struggle to make systemic (प्रणालीगत, संगठित) changes to make the workplace safe for women continues. The District and Sessions Court (सत्र न्यायालय), Sealdah, found Sanjay Roy guilty (अपराधी) of the horrific crime at the State-run (राज्य द्वारा संचालित) R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024, while on duty. Pronouncing the verdict in the presence of the parents and the accused (आरोपी), Judge Anirban Das said the accused was found guilty based on evidence put forward (प्रस्तावित करना) by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The accused is being held guilty under Sections 64 (rape), 66 (causing death), and 103(1) (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Reading out the verdict, the judge said the crime carries the highest punishment of a death sentence and the lowest of life imprisonment (कैद, कारावास); the terms (शर्तें, नियम) of the sentence will be announced on January 20, 2025. In his observations (टिप्पणी, विचार), the judge also put the spotlight on the functioning of the hospital administration, saying that the actions of the college’s principal and other senior members had “created some confusion” in his mind. In widespread protests after the crime, doctors, the parents, and civil society (नागरिक समाज) had alleged (claim, state, argue, assert, charge, accuse) that it could not have been the handiwork (action, work) of only one individual.

Sandip Ghosh, principal of the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital at the time of the murder, was arrested by the CBI on charges (allegation, accusation, indictment) of evidence tampering (altering, damaging, changing; interfering/meddling) and the delay in filing the first information report (FIR) (a written document prepared by the police when they receive information about the commission of a cognizable offence), but was released on bail (conditional, temporary release of an arrested/imprisoned person when a specified amount of security is deposited or pledged (as cash or property) to ensure his/her appearance in court when required) as the charge sheet (an official document on which a police officer enters details of the charge against a person) had not been filed in 90 days, as is (in the present condition) the rule. Inefficiencies in policing (the enforcement of rules/regulations; overseeing, monitoring, inspection) have also come to the fore (to become obvious, to become visible, to become noticeable (to public attention); come in a position of importance; (come) to a prominent position); there was an inordinate (unfair, disproportionate, excessive, immoderate, undue, unreasonable, unjustifiable) delay in filing the FIR, for example, and other lapses (failure, mistake, blunder, oversight). The parents of the doctor said they respect the judgment and sought the highest punishment for the accused but expressed hope that the investigation would not be halted so that all the culprits (criminal, offender, wrongdoer, lawbreaker, perpetrator) are nabbed, a sentiment (feeling, opinion, point of view) echoed by protesting doctors, activists (a person who supports a political change or cause; (or societal change/cause)) — and also the Opposition. There are cases pending in the High Court and the Supreme Court of India, which began hearing (court case, lawsuit, trial, inquiry, legal proceedings, proceedings, legal action) it suo motu (Latin term means “on its own motion”. It is used where a government agency acts on its own knowledge) after the uproar (commotion, disruption, disturbance, disorder, furore, fuss, hullabaloo, brouhaha, racket, ruckus, tumult, turmoil, clamour) over the rape. It should not need a rape and murder to wake up to (to become aware of something; to realize something) appalling (shocking, horrific, horrible, terrible, awful, disgusting,, frightening, terrifying, alarming, scary) working conditions, such as the lack (absence, unavailability, non-existence) of basic amenities and a safe room to rest. Kolkata’s State-run hospitals are stretched thin and reports of corruption are rife (widespread, general, common, extensive, prevalent, ubiquitous, omnipresent, everywhere, present everywhere). The State government announced a slew (a large number of, lot, range) of measures (course of action, action, procedure, step) for the protection of health workers, and the onus (responsibility, commitment, liability, accountability, obligation) is on the administration to follow through (continue with, carry/keep on with, keep going with, stay with; bring to completion/end, complete) with the promises.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.foul (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - बुरा, गंदा
English Meaning - evil, wicked, sinful, immoral, wrongful.

2.state (noun)

Hindi Meaning - राज्य, सरकार
English Meaning - government.

3.authorities (noun)

Hindi Meaning - अधिकारी
English Meaning - officer, office-holder, representative, bureaucrat, functionary, administrator, executive, official, officialdom, the people in charge.

4.conviction (noun)

Hindi Meaning - दोषसिद्धि
English Meaning - sentence, judgement, verdict.

5.systemic (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - प्रणालीगत, संगठित
English Meaning - relating to a system; systematic, organized, systematized, methodical, methodic, structured.

6.Sessions Court (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सत्र न्यायालय
English Meaning - In India, the apex court within the district dealing with criminal cases is named as “sessions court” as per the Code Of Criminal Procedure (CrPc). While the court dealing with civil cases as per the Code Of Civil Procedure is called “district court”.

7.guilty (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अपराधी
English Meaning - at fault, culpable, accountable/responsible for misconduct.

8.state-run (adjective)

Hindi Meaning - राज्य द्वारा संचालित
English Meaning - maintained by state government.

9.the accused (noun)

Hindi Meaning - आरोपी
English Meaning - the suspected person.

10.put forward (phrasal verb)

Hindi Meaning - प्रस्तावित करना
English Meaning - propose, present, offer, submit, suggest, recommend, introduce.

11.Indian Penal Code (IPC) (noun)

Hindi Meaning - भारतीय दंड संहिता
English Meaning - The Indian Penal Code (IPC) is the official criminal code of India. It is a comprehensive code intended to cover all substantive aspects of criminal law. The draft was passed into law on 6 October 1860. The Code came into operation on 1 January 1862. The Indian Penal Code of 1860, subdivided into 23 chapters, comprises 511 sections. IPC deals with crimes and punishments.

12.imprisonment (noun)

Hindi Meaning - कैद, कारावास
English Meaning - incarceration, captivity, custody, arrest, restraint, confinement, internment, detention.

13.terms (noun)

Hindi Meaning - शर्तें, नियम
English Meaning - conditions, particulars, details.

14.observation (noun)

Hindi Meaning - टिप्पणी, विचार
English Meaning - pronouncement, statement, declaration, remark, comment, opinion, reflection.

15.civil society (noun)

Hindi Meaning - नागरिक समाज
English Meaning - civil society refers to space for collective action around shared interests, purposes, and values, generally distinct from government and commercial for-profit actors. It refers to a wide array of organizations: community groups, non-governmental organizations [NGOs], labour unions, indigenous groups, charitable organizations, faith-based organizations, professional associations, and foundations. Civil society - sometimes called the “third sector” (after government and commerce) - has the power to influence the actions of elected policy-makers and businesses.

16.murder most foul (phrase)

English Meaning - a phrase that comes from Shakespeare’s most popular play Hamlet. “Murder most foul” literally means a murder that is immoral in intention and very unpleasant in nature. It also means a murder is the most unpleasant/immoral of all crimes.

17.find guilty (phrase)

English Meaning - declare guilty, convict, sentence.

18.held past participle of hold (verb)

English Meaning - (of a court) rule, decide.

19.Sections 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (noun)

English Meaning - it deals with “Punishment for rape”.

20.Section 64 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (noun)

English Meaning - it deals with “Punishment for causing death or resulting in persistent vegetative state of victim”.

21.Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (noun)

English Meaning - it says “whoever commits murder shall be punished with death or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine”.

22.Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Act, 2023 (noun)

English Meaning - An Act to consolidate and amend the provisions relating to offences and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. It is the official criminal code in India and it replaced the Indian Penal Code (IPC). It came into effect on 1 July 2024 after being passed by the parliament in December 2023.

23.life term (noun)

English Meaning - an imprisonment that lasts until die.

24.life sentence (noun)

English Meaning - a punishment for a criminal of imprisonment for life; prison term, prison sentence, jail sentence, penal sentence.

25.turn/put the spotlight on (phrase)

English Meaning - to focus on someone or something; bring attention to someone or something; highlight, accentuate, underscore, underline.

26.allege (verb)

English Meaning - claim, state, argue, assert, charge, accuse.

27.handiwork (noun)

English Meaning - action, work.

28.charge (noun)

English Meaning - allegation, accusation, indictment.

29.tampering (noun)

English Meaning - altering, damaging, changing; interfering/meddling.

30.witness/evidence tampering (noun)

English Meaning - the act of obstructing justice by improperly interacting with a witness before or after trial.

31.first information report (FIR) (noun)

English Meaning - a written document prepared by the police when they receive information about the commission of a cognizable offence.

32.bail (noun)

English Meaning - conditional, temporary release of an arrested/imprisoned person when a specified amount of security is deposited or pledged (as cash or property) to ensure his/her appearance in court when required.

33.charge sheet (noun)

English Meaning - an official document on which a police officer enters details of the charge against a person.

34.as is (phrase)

English Meaning - in the present condition.

35.policing (noun)

English Meaning - the enforcement of rules/regulations; overseeing, monitoring, inspection.

36.come to the fore (phrase)

English Meaning - to become obvious, to become visible, to become noticeable (to public attention); come in a position of importance; (come) to a prominent position.

37.inordinate (adjective)

English Meaning - unfair, disproportionate, excessive, immoderate, undue, unreasonable, unjustifiable.

38.lapse (noun)

English Meaning - failure, mistake, blunder, oversight.

39.sought past tense of seek (verb)

English Meaning - ask for, request, appeal, demand.

40.culprit (noun)

English Meaning - criminal, offender, wrongdoer, lawbreaker, perpetrator.

41.nab (verb)

English Meaning - arrest, catch, capture, apprehend, take into custody.

42.sentiment (noun)

English Meaning - feeling, opinion, point of view.

43.echo (verb)

English Meaning - repeat, say again, reiterate, restate, mimic, imitate.

44.activist (noun)

English Meaning - a person who supports a political change or cause; (or societal change/cause).

45.hearing (noun)

English Meaning - court case, lawsuit, trial, inquiry, legal proceedings, proceedings, legal action.

46.suo motu (phrase)

English Meaning - Latin term means “on its own motion”. It is used where a government agency acts on its own knowledge.

47.uproar (noun)

English Meaning - commotion, disruption, disturbance, disorder, furore, fuss, hullabaloo, brouhaha, racket, ruckus, tumult, turmoil, clamour.

48.wake up to (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - to become aware of something; to realize something.

49.appalling (adjective)

English Meaning - shocking, horrific, horrible, terrible, awful, disgusting,, frightening, terrifying, alarming, scary.

50.lack (noun)

English Meaning - absence, unavailability, non-existence.

51.stretch thin (phrase)

English Meaning - don’t have enough time/money to do what one wants (or) to try to do a lot of different things at the same time.

52.rife (adjective)

English Meaning - widespread, general, common, extensive, prevalent, ubiquitous, omnipresent, everywhere, present everywhere

53.slew (noun)

English Meaning - a large number of, lot, range.

54.measure (noun)

English Meaning - course of action, action, procedure, step.

55.onus (noun)

English Meaning - responsibility, commitment, liability, accountability, obligation.

56.follow through (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - continue with, carry/keep on with, keep going with, stay with; bring to completion/end, complete.